Triglycerides are a type of blood fat. A raised result needs to be interpreted alongside other blood fats, sampling conditions and your overall health. The follow-up is not determined by one isolated number or by whether you feel symptoms.
High blood fats usually cause no noticeable symptoms. A clinician may assess both long-term cardiovascular risk and, for very high triglycerides, the risk of pancreatitis. Follow any prompt instructions from the service that ordered the test.
Before comparing your result with an online table
Check the unit, the laboratory’s reference information and whether you followed the sampling instructions. Swedish reports commonly use mmol/L, while some international websites use different units. A laboratory reference interval and an individual treatment target are not necessarily the same thing.
Food intake can affect triglycerides. Ask whether a fasting repeat is appropriate for your result; do not assume that every lipid test needs fasting. If a repeat is requested, follow the service’s instructions rather than changing medicines or making unusual short-term diet changes to obtain a different number.
What may contribute to a raised triglyceride result?
The assessment can include alcohol intake, metabolic health, diabetes control, thyroid or kidney disease, medicines and inherited factors. These are possible lines of investigation, not a list of conditions that can be diagnosed from the result.
Bring previous lipid results if you have them. A change over time may be useful, especially alongside information about treatment, illness or sampling conditions. Tell the clinician about supplements as well as prescribed medicines.
| Question | What to bring or clarify |
|---|---|
| Was the result expected? | Previous values, units and any recent illness or treatment change. |
| Does it need repeating? | When, whether to fast, and who will interpret the repeat. |
| What else affects the decision? | Other blood fats, blood pressure, diabetes, smoking and relevant family history. |
| What is the agreed next step? | A specific change or treatment plan, review date and contact for questions. |
How are treatment decisions made?
Advice may include reducing alcohol, reviewing food and drink habits, physical activity and addressing an underlying medical cause. The appropriate emphasis depends on the individual. Ask for a manageable plan rather than trying several restrictive diets or supplements at once.
Medicines may be needed according to the lipid pattern, the degree of elevation and overall risk. LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and other measures answer related but different questions. Treatment is not simply a contest to make one value as low as possible.
Do not start high-dose supplements or stop a lipid-lowering medicine without discussing it. If treatment causes symptoms or seems difficult to maintain, contact the prescriber so the plan can be reviewed.
When is more urgent help needed?
The requesting service should explain the urgency of a markedly raised result. Severe or persistent upper abdominal pain, especially with vomiting or feeling very ill, needs prompt medical assessment. Call 112 if you are seriously unwell or have life-threatening symptoms. Do not assume an abdominal symptom is caused by triglycerides without assessment.
Follow-up in Sweden
Contact the service that requested the blood test, or a vårdcentral if you need ongoing assessment. A private blood-test purchase should include a clear route for interpretation. Ask whether repeat testing, the medical review and continuing treatment are included in the quoted cost.
Common questions
Can a meal affect the result?
Yes. Sampling instructions matter, but the clinician decides whether a repeat or fasting sample would help in your case.
Will I feel when the value improves?
Usually not. Follow-up blood tests and the agreed clinical review are used to assess the response.
Sources and further reading
- 1177: Höga halter av blodfetter (in Swedish)
- 1177 för vårdpersonal: Hyperlipidemi (in Swedish)
- 1177: Läkemedel vid höga halter av blodfetter (in Swedish)
Sources and links checked on 22 October 2026. Editorial team: Hagakliniken. This is general information and does not replace an individual medical assessment.