(ABC) - A new study, published today in the British medical journal "The Lancet," may soon give doctors another tool in diagnosing heart disease.
Worldwide, coronary heart disease kills about seven million people every year, and that's why doctors recommend that people eat healthy, exercise, and quit smoking.
They also urge anyone over the age of 20 to have their cholesterol checked at least every five years. Cholesterol can create thick, hard deposits in our arteries - reducing blood flow throughout the body.
Now, a new study, published in the medical journal "The Lancet" says doctors should also pay more attention to something called triglycerides - or fats contained in our blood.
Triglycerides are produced by the liver and come from food - and are a major source of energy for the body.
For the first time, researchers have found a direct, genetic link between triglyceride levels and heart disease. People with a genetic tendency for higher triglyceride levels also have a higher risk of heart disease.
While the study says more research is needed, it also urges clinical trials of new medications designed specifically to lower triglycerides in hopes of preventing heart disease.
So the next time you go in for that cholesterol check - talk to your doctor about your triglycerides too.
