美国疾病预防与控制中心日前公布的2009～2010年的全美人群高胆固醇血症患病率，较1999～2000年该症之人群患病率下降了27％，即由18.3％降低至13.4％，这一结果充分证明“通过调整膳食、适当运动和合理治疗”等完全可以降低或调整人群的血清胆固醇水平，即高胆固醇血症不仅可以治疗，亦可预防。

U.S. cholesterol rate falls, study shows

ATLANTA (Reuters) - Only 13.4 percent of U.S. adults have high cholesterol, a federal agency said on Tuesday, possibly reflecting better diet, more exercise and the increased use of prescription drugs to lower the risk of heart attacks.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey in 2009 and 2010 revealed a 27 percent decline over 10 years in the percentage of adults with high cholesterol, a major risk factor for heart disease that is the leading cause of death in the United States.

A similar survey conducted in 1999 and 2000 showed that 18.3 percent of adults had high total cholesterol.

The CDC survey did not study the causes of the decrease in high cholesterol. Likely factors include better diet, increased exercise and increased use of drugs that lower cholesterol levels, CDC epidemiologist Cynthia Ogden told Reuters.

While there are no symptoms associated with high cholesterol, levels in the blood can be monitored by a simple test.

There are two types of cholesterol. Low-density lipoproteins (LDL), known as "bad" cholesterol, can build up in arteries and cause heart disease, while high-density lipoproteins (HDL), called "good" cholesterol, can absorb the bad cholesterol and return it to the liver.

Both high total cholesterol levels or low HDL levels can increase risk of heart disease or heart attacks, the CDC said.

Despite the positive trends, the survey results were better news for some groups than others. More than 14 percent of women have high cholesterol compared to 12.2 percent for men, the CDC said.

Also, high total cholesterol is more prevalent in Hispanics, Ogden said. "Screening is less prevalent in that group than with whites, for example," he said.

The CDC survey for 2009 and 2010 included blood tests from 6,000 people.