Heart disease and cancer are the top two causes of death. Though there’s no guarantee, making healthy choices can lower your chance of being affected by these and other leading causes of death. Show
For over a decade, heart disease and cancer have claimed the first and second spots, respectively, as the leading causes of deaths in America. Together, the two causes are responsible for 37.5 percent of deaths in the United States. Combined with the third most common cause of death — COVID-19 — the three diseases account for half of all deaths in the United States. For more than 30 years, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been collecting and examining causes of death. This information helps researchers and doctors understand if they need to address growing epidemics in healthcare. The numbers also help them understand how preventive measures may help people live longer and healthier lives. The top 10 causes of death in the United States account for more than 75 percent of all deaths. Learn about each of the main causes and what can be done to prevent them. The following data is taken from the CDC’s 2021 report. Number of deaths per year: 695,547 Percent of total deaths: 20 percent More common among:
What causes heart disease?Heart disease is a term used to describe a range of conditions that affect your heart and blood vessels. These conditions include:
Tips for preventionLifestyle changes can prevent many cases of heart disease, such as the following:
Number of deaths per year: 605,213 Percent of total deaths: 17 percent More common among: Each type of cancer has a specific set of risk factors, but several risk factors are common among multiple types. These risk factors include:
What causes cancer?Cancer is the result of rapid and uncontrolled cell growth in your body. A normal cell multiplies and divides in a controlled manner. Sometimes, those instructions become scrambled. When this happens, the cells begin to divide at an uncontrolled rate. This can develop into cancer. Tips for preventionThere’s no clear way to avoid cancer. But certain behaviors have been linked to increased cancer risk, like smoking. Avoiding those behaviors may help you cut your risk. Good changes to your behaviors include things like:
Number of deaths per year: 416,893 Percent of total deaths: 12 percent More common among: You’re at high risk for contracting SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, if you come into contact with someone who’s carrying it and are not vaccinated. If you are vaccinated, you may still contract the virus, but with less severe symptoms. What causes COVID-19?The SARSCoV-2 virus is transmitted through respiratory droplets passed through the air from other humans, or from animals that have contracted the virus. Tips for preventionStaying current with your COVID vaccinations is important. Avoid or limit contact with people who are showing symptoms of COVID-19 or any respiratory infection. The next best thing you can do is practice good hygiene and physical distancing to help prevent bacteria and viruses from being transmitted. Regular hand washing after being outside is important. While rules on masks have largely been lifted, masks are still a good additional safety measure, especially if you are a senior or a member of another high risk population. Number of deaths per year: 224,935 Percent of total deaths: 6.5 percent More common among:
What causes accidents?Accidents lead to more than 28 million emergency room visits each year. The three leading causes of accident-related death are:
Tips for preventionUnintentional injuries may be the result of carelessness or a lack of careful action. Be aware of your surroundings. Take all proper precautions to prevent accidents or injuries. If you hurt yourself, seek emergency medical treatment to prevent serious complications. Number of deaths per year: 162,890 Percent of total deaths: 4.7 percent More common among:
What causes a stroke?A stroke occurs when the blood flow to your brain is cut off. Without oxygen-rich blood flowing to your brain, your brain cells begin to die in a matter of minutes. The blood flow can be stopped because of a blocked artery or bleeding in the brain. This bleeding may be from an aneurysm or a broken blood vessel. Tips for preventionMany of the same lifestyle changes that can reduce your risk for heart disease can also reduce your risk for stroke:
Number of deaths per year: 119,399 Percent of total deaths: 3.4 percent More common among:
What causes Alzheimer’s disease?The cause of Alzheimer’s disease is unclear, but researchers and doctors believe a combination of a person’s genes, lifestyle, and environment impacts the brain over time. Some of these changes occur years, even decades, before the first symptoms appear. Tips for preventionWhile you can’t control your age or genetics, which are two of the most common risk factors for this disease, you can control certain lifestyle factors that may increase your risk for it by doing the following:
Number of deaths per year: 103,294 Percent of total deaths: 3 percent More common among: Type 1 diabetes is more commonly diagnosed in:
Type 2 diabetes is more common among:
What causes diabetes?Type 1 diabetes occurs when your pancreas can’t produce enough insulin. Type 2 diabetes occurs when your body becomes resistant to insulin or doesn’t make enough of it to control your blood sugar levels. Tips for preventionYou can’t prevent type 1 diabetes. However, you may prevent type 2 diabetes with several lifestyle changes, like the following:
Number of deaths per year: 56,585 Percent of total deaths: 1.6 percent More common among:
What causes liver disease?Both liver disease and cirrhosis are the result of liver damage. Tips for preventionIf you feel you’re misusing alcohol, see a healthcare provider. They can help you . This may include a combination of:
The longer and more you drink, the greater your risk for developing liver disease or cirrhosis. Likewise, if you receive a diagnosis of hepatitis, follow your doctor’s instructions in treating the condition to prevent unnecessary liver damage. Number of deaths per year: 54,358 Percent of total deaths: 1.6 percent More common among:
What causes kidney diseases?The term kidney disease refers to three main conditions:
Each of these conditions is the result of unique conditions or diseases. Nephritis (kidney inflammation) can result from an infection, a medication you’re taking, or an autoimmune disorder. Nephrotic syndrome is a condition that causes your kidneys to produce high levels of protein in your urine. It’s often the result of kidney damage. Nephrosis is a type of kidney disease that ultimately can lead to kidney failure. It’s also often the result of damage to the kidneys from either physical or chemical changes. Tips for preventionLike with many of the other leading causes of death, taking better care of your health can help you prevent kidney disease. Consider the following:
Though it’s the most common cause, heart disease deaths have been falling over the last 50 years. However, in 2011, the number of deaths from heart disease began to slowly rise. Between 2011 and 2014, heart disease deaths rose 3 percent. Between 2010 and 2014, deaths from stroke dropped 11 percent. This falling number of preventable deaths suggests that health awareness campaigns are hopefully increasing awareness of preventive measures people can take to live a longer, healthier life. The gap between heart disease and cancer was once much wider. Heart disease’s hold on the number one spot was wide and demanding. Then, American health experts and doctors began encouraging Americans to curb smoking, and they started treating heart disease. Because of these efforts, the number of heart disease-related deaths has been falling over the last five decades. Meanwhile, the number of cancer-related deaths has been rising. Just over 22,000 deaths separate the two causes today. Many researchers suspect cancer may overtake heart disease as the leading cause of death in coming years. Accidental deaths are also on the rise. From 2010 to 2014, the number of accident-related deaths increased by 23 percent. This number is fueled largely by substance overdose deaths. The list of leading causes of death worldwide shares many of the same causes with the U.S. list. These causes of death include:
While you can’t prevent every cause of death, you can do a lot to lower your risks. Many of the leading causes of death, both in the United States and worldwide, are preventable with lifestyle changes. What's the number 1 killer in the US?Heart disease and cancer are the top two causes of death. Though there's no guarantee, making healthy choices can lower your chance of being affected by these and other leading causes of death. What is the number one cause of death in history?Heart diseases were the most common cause, responsible for a third of all deaths globally. Cancers were in second, causing almost one-in-five deaths. Taken together, heart diseases and cancers are the cause of every second death. What are the top 5 preventable deaths?Western societies. What is the1 leading cause of disability worldwide?Depression, the common psychological disorder, affects about 121 million people worldwide. World Health Organization (WHO) states that depression is the leading cause of disability as measured by Years Lived with Disability (YLDs) and the fourth leading contributor to the global burden of disease. |