America's Health Rankings, United Health Foundation Logo

High Cholesterol in New York
search
New York
search

Explore national- and state-level data for hundreds of health, environmental and socioeconomic measures, including background information about each measure. Use features on this page to find measures; view subpopulations, trends and rankings; and download and share content.

New York Value:

36.2%

Percentage of adults who reported having their cholesterol checked and being told by a health professional that it was high

New York Rank:

31

High Cholesterol in depth:

Explore Population Data:

Appears In:

High Cholesterol by State

Percentage of adults who reported having their cholesterol checked and being told by a health professional that it was high

Search by State
Search for a state or tap below

Data from CDC, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2021

<= 33.3%

33.4% - 35.0%

35.1% - 36.1%

36.2% - 37.7%

>= 37.8%

No Data

• Data Unavailable
Top StatesRankValue
Your StateRankValue
3036.1%
3136.2%
3236.6%
Bottom StatesRankValue
4738.8%
4840.1%

High Cholesterol

130.5%
231.4%
331.6%
331.6%
532.0%
532.0%
732.2%
832.3%
932.6%
1033.3%
1133.4%
1433.9%
1634.8%
1834.9%
2035.0%
2135.4%
2135.4%
2335.5%
2435.6%
2535.7%
2735.8%
2835.9%
2936.0%
3036.1%
3136.2%
3236.6%
3436.8%
3637.0%
3737.2%
3837.5%
3937.6%
4037.7%
4037.7%
4337.9%
4438.0%
4638.6%
4738.8%
4840.1%
Data Unavailable
[2] Results are suppressed due to inadequate sample size and/or to protect identity
Source:
  • CDC, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2021

High Cholesterol Trends

Percentage of adults who reported having their cholesterol checked and being told by a health professional that it was high

Compare States
plus

About High Cholesterol

US Value: 35.7%

Top State(s): Montana: 30.5%

Bottom State(s): West Virginia: 41.0%

Definition: Percentage of adults who reported having their cholesterol checked and being told by a health professional that it was high

Data Source and Years(s): CDC, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2021

Suggested Citation: America's Health Rankings analysis of CDC, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, United Health Foundation, AmericasHealthRankings.org, accessed 2024.

High cholesterol is a major and modifiable risk factor for heart disease and stroke, the leading and fifth-leading causes of death in the United States, respectively. Excess low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (also known as LDL or “bad” cholesterol) creates a plaque that narrows arteries and reduces oxygen-rich blood flow. When a coronary artery is blocked and the heart cannot get enough oxygen, the result is a heart attack. Similarly, restricted blood flow to the brain can cause a stroke. An estimated 24.7 million U.S. adults have high total cholesterol (≥ 240 mg/dL). 

High cholesterol is influenced by modifiable risk factors like poor diet (eating foods high in saturated fat and cholesterol), overweight and obesity, physical inactivity and smoking.

According to America’s Health Rankings data, the prevalence of high cholesterol is higher among:

  • Men than women.
  • Adults ages 65 and older compared with adults ages 18-44. 
  • Non-Hispanic white adults and adults who identify their race as other compared with Hispanic adults.
  • Adults with less than a high school education compared with college graduates. 
  • Adults with an annual household income less than $25,000 compared with those with higher income levels.
  • Adults living in non-metropolitan areas compared with adults in metropolitan areas.

High cholesterol is an ideal target for prevention and control strategies because it is a modifiable risk factor for heart disease and stroke and can be managed through therapeutic lifestyle changes and health care interventions, including: 

  • Increasing physical activity.
  • Quitting smoking.
  • Managing weight.
  • Eating healthy foods. A diet low in saturated fats has been identified by the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines as one of the most effective lifestyle changes to decrease high cholesterol. The guidelines specifically recommend eating vegetables, beans, seafood, whole grains and nuts while avoiding solid fats, added sugars, refined grains and red meat. 
  • Using cholesterol-lowering medications, which have contributed to a substantial decrease in the prevalence of high cholesterol over the past 25 years. 

In order to identify high cholesterol, which usually has no signs or symptoms, the American Heart Association recommends adults ages 20 and older have their cholesterol checked with a blood test every four to six years.

Healthy People 2030 has many objectives related to heart disease and stroke, including:

Kuklina, Elena V., Margaret D. Carroll, Kate M. Shaw, and Rosemarie Hirsch. “Trends in High LDL Cholesterol, Cholesterol-Lowering Medication Use, and Dietary Saturated-Fat Intake: United States, 1976-2010.” NCHS Data Brief No. 117. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics, March 2013. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db117.htm/.

Tsao, Connie W., Aaron W. Aday, Zaid I. Almarzooq, Cheryl A.M. Anderson, Pankaj Arora, Christy L. Avery, Carissa M. Baker-Smith, et al. “Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics—2023 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association.” Circulation 147, no. 8 (February 21, 2023). https://doi.org/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001123.

U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025.” Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, December 2020. https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/sites/default/files/2020-12/Dietary_Guidelines_for_Americans_2020-2025.pdf.

Current Reports

America’s Health Rankings builds on the work of the United Health Foundation to draw attention to public health and better understand the health of various populations. Our platform provides relevant information that policymakers, public health officials, advocates and leaders can use to effect change in their communities.

We have developed detailed analyses on the health of key populations in the country, including women and children, seniors and those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, in addition to a deep dive into health disparities across the country.