Q: I am 18 years old and I had a nosebleed yesterday. I noticed that the blood that oozed out became very thick and slimy after a few minutes. A day before I underwent a blood test, and the doctor said that my triglyceride level is 203. So, now I have two questions: How can I lower my triglyceride level without drugs? Is the thickening of my blood related to my high triglyceride level?

A:What you call thickening of the blood is the normal clotting response of the body. Whenever blood comes in contact with a foreign surface, a physiological response is initiated involving cells called platelets and a number of clotting proteins, both present in the blood. This results in apparent thickening of the blood finally ending in a clot formation, which plugs the leak. So, please don't worry about the blood. You, however, need to show yourself to an ENT specialist who can examine the nose and look for the cause of the nosebleed. Any excess calories we consume, beyond a certain level, turn into a type of fat called triglycerides. Excess triglycerides can clog the arteries and result in heart, brain and other diseases. The simplest way to lower it is to consume less sugar, fat and alcohol and exercise regularly to burn off the excess calories consumed. Cut down the intake of fried food (including butter/ghee), red meat and sweets and incorporate daily exercise in your schedule.