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Top Ten Causes of Death

Disease
Disease

Heart disease and cancer still top the list as the leading causes of death in the United States, but the gap is closing between the two. A new report out from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention looks at the shifting trends in Americans' health and mortality, and the conditions most likely to take lives.

source: cbsnews.com
image: friynds.com
Coronary Artery Disease
Coronary Artery Disease

Coronary artery disease (CAD), also known as ischemic heart disease (IHD), refers to a group of diseases which includes stable angina, unstable angina, myocardial infarction, and sudden cardiac death. It is within the group of cardiovascular diseases of which it is the most common type.

Lung Cancer
Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death and the second most common cancer among both men and women in the United States. The most important thing you can do to lower your lung cancer risk is to quit smoking and avoid secondhand smoke.

source: cdc.gov
Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes mellitus (or diabetes) is a chronic, lifelong condition that affects your body's ability to use the energy found in food.There are three major types of diabetes: type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes.

source: webmd.com
image: medscape.org
Stroke
Stroke

Stroke is a disease that affects the arteries leading to and within the brain. It is the . No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the United States. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts (or ruptures).

Injury
Injury

Charts of the 10 leading causes of death and injury by age group for the US

source: cdc.gov
image: cdc.gov
Chronic Condition
Chronic Condition

Chronic Diseases: The Leading Causes of Death and Disability in the United States Chronic diseases and conditions—such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and arthritis—are among the most common, costly, and preventable of all health problems.

source: cdc.gov
Accident
Accident

Accidents or Unintentional Injuries. Recommend on Facebook Tweet Share Compartir. ... Cause of death rank: 4; Unintentional fall deaths. Number of deaths: 33,381;

source: cdc.gov
Pneumonia
Pneumonia

Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that can cause mild to severe illness in people of all ages. Depending on the cause, doctors often treat pneumonia with medicine. In addition, vaccines can prevent some types of pneumonia.

source: cdc.gov
Virus
Virus

Most virus infections eventually result in the death of the host cell. The causes of death include cell lysis, alterations to the cell's surface membrane and apoptosis. Often cell death is caused by cessation of its normal activities because of suppression by virus-specific proteins, not all of which are components of the virus particle.

Suicide
Suicide

Suicide is among the leading causes of death in the United States. Based on recent nationwide surveys, suicide in some populations is on the rise. Suicide is defined as death caused by self-directed injurious behavior with intent to die as a result of the behavior.

source: nimh.nih.gov
Hypertension
Hypertension

High blood pressure raises your risk for heart disease and stroke, which are leading causes of death in the United States. 1 High blood pressure has no warning signs or symptoms, and many people do not know they have it.

source: cdc.gov
Lung Infection
Lung Infection

Lung tissue diseases - the structure of the lung tissue is affected. Tissue inflammation or scarring causes restrictive lung disease - the lungs cannot expand fully, making it harder to breath oxygen in, and get rid of carbon dioxide (breath out). Examples include sarcoidosis and pulmonary fibrosis.

Influenza
Influenza

The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting a flu vaccine each year.

source: cdc.gov
Dementia
Dementia

Despite this, dementia is not always put on the death certificate as the reason for passing away. Difficult decisions. Once someone is reaching the end of the dementia journey, the priority is usually to make them as comfortable as possible. It is possible to treat some of the problems that can occur – and can cause death.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chronic lower respiratory disease, primarily COPD, was the third leading cause of death in the United States in 2014. 2 Almost 15.7 million Americans (6.4%) reported that they have been diagnosed with COPD. 3 More than 50% of adults with low pulmonary function were not aware that they had COPD, 4 so the actual number may be higher.

source: cdc.gov
Obesity
Obesity

Obesity and inactivity also strongly increase the risk of diabetes, the sixth leading cause of death. The leading causes of death in 2000 were tobacco (435 000 deaths; 18.1% of total US deaths), poor diet and physical inactivity (400 000 deaths; 16.6%), and alcohol consumption (85 000 deaths; 3.5%).

Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease that usually affects the lungs. Compared with other diseases caused by a single infectious agent, tuberculosis is the second biggest killer, globally. In 2015, 1.8 million people died from the disease, with 10.4 million falling ill.

Ischemia
Ischemia

Ischemia is a vascular disease involving an interruption in the arterial blood supply to a tissue, organ, or extremity that, if untreated, can lead to tissue death. It can be caused by embolism, thrombosis of an atherosclerotic artery, or trauma.

Breast Cancer
Breast Cancer

Trends in breast cancer deaths. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women. (Only lung cancer kills more women each year.) The chance that a woman will die from breast cancer is about 1 in 37 (about 2.7%). Death rates from breast cancer dropped from 1989 to 2007.

source: cancer.org
Infectious Disease
Infectious Disease

Leading causes of death in the United States, as percentage of deaths in each age group. Perinatal mortality (<1yrs of age) seldom falls in any of these causes. Death by age group as rate compared to the age group with highest rate.

Diarrhea
Diarrhea

Diarrhea: What we know. It causes death by depleting body fluids resulting in profound dehydration. Diarrhea can have a detrimental impact on childhood growth and cognitive development 4. About 88% of diarrhea-associated deaths are attributable to unsafe water, inadequate sanitation, and insufficient hygiene 5, 6.

source: cdc.gov
Birth Defect
Birth Defect

Most birth defects are present within the first three months of pregnancy, when the organs are still forming. Some birth defects are harmless. Others require long-term medical treatment. Severe birth defects are the leading cause of infant death in the United States, accounting for 20 percent of deaths.

image: cdc.gov
Traffic Collision
Traffic Collision

The findings, shown below in map form, show what causes the most driving fatalities in every US state. In a majority of states, failure to stay in your lane kills the most people. The second-most-common behavior was failing to yield the right-of-way, the leading cause in seven states.

Mental Disorder
Mental Disorder

What are the causes of mental illness? Although the exact cause of most mental illnesses is not known, it is becoming clear through research that many of these conditions are caused by a combination of biological, psychological, and environmental factors.

source: webmd.com
Asthma
Asthma

It is possible that the push towards energy-efficient homes has increased exposure to these causes of asthma. Tobacco Smoke Tobacco smoke has been linked to a higher risk of asthma as well as a higher risk of death due to asthma, wheezing, and respiratory infections. In addition, children of mothers who smoke - and other people exposed to ...

Malaria
Malaria

Infection with malaria parasites may result in a wide variety of symptoms, ranging from absent or very mild symptoms to severe disease and even death. Malaria disease can be categorized as uncomplicated or severe (complicated). In general, malaria is a curable disease if diagnosed and treated promptly and correctly.

source: cdc.gov
Complication
Complication

Undiagnosed urinary tract infections resulting in a sepsis infection are a known complication of Alzheimer's disease and are a leading cause of death in Alzheimer's patients.

image: medscape.org
Old age
Old age

“Old age” is not truly a cause of death in and of itself. To “die of old age” means that someone has died naturally from an ailment associated with aging. The same usually goes for “dying of natural causes.” Traditionally, government health authorities have required resident’s causes ...

Nephritis
Nephritis

Interstitial nephritis (or tubulo-interstitial nephritis) is inflammation of the spaces between renal tubules. Causes. Nephritis is often caused by infections, and toxins, but is most commonly caused by autoimmune disorders that affect the major organs like kidneys.

Homicide
Homicide

#12 cause of death with 533,879 deaths (1.3% of all deaths); #1 method of suicide with 313,641 deaths (51.9% of all suicides). The next leading method, suffocation, had 141,042 deaths (23.3%); #1 method of homicide with 198,760 deaths (67.3% of all homicides).

Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis

What Causes Cirrhosis? This disease always develops as a result of other liver conditions or diseases you already have. They include: Alcohol-related liver disease. Drinking too much alcohol for years on end raises your risk of cirrhosis. It causes fat and inflammation in the liver.

source: webmd.com
Sepsis
Sepsis

Sepsis is a major challenge in hospitals, where it’s one of the leading causes of death. It is also a main reason why people are readmitted to the hospital. Sepsis occurs unpredictably and can progress rapidly.

source: nigms.nih.gov
Childbirth
Childbirth

Maternal death or maternal mortality is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as "the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and site of the pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management but not from accidental or incidental ...

Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men and women in the United States. It's expected to cause about 50,630 deaths during 2018. The death rate (the number of deaths per 100,000 people per year) from colorectal cancer has been dropping in both men and women for several decades.

source: cancer.org
Acute Myocardial Infarction
Acute Myocardial Infarction

If cardiac ischemia lasts too long, the starved heart tissue dies. This is a heart attack, otherwise known as a myocardial infarction -- literally, "death of heart muscle." Most heart attacks occur during several hours -- so never wait to seek help if you think a heart attack is beginning.

source: webmd.com
Premature Obstetric Labor
Premature Obstetric Labor

In most cases, preterm labor (labor that happens too soon, before 37 weeks of pregnancy) begins unexpectedly and the cause is unknown. Like regular labor, signs of early labor are—

source: cdc.gov
Prostate Cancer
Prostate Cancer

A recent rise in the incidence of prostate cancer and a more favorable outcome have increased the proportions of other causes of death in affected men. Extending the survival of prostate cancer patients thus requires knowledge of all causes of death. Data on the population, cancers, and causes of ...

Cerebrovascular Disease
Cerebrovascular Disease

Cerebrovascular disease is a group of conditions, including stroke, transient ischemic attack, aneurysms, and blocked arteries. This article explains each of these kinds of cerebrovascular disease, symptoms, and how to act fast to limit the damage if someone experiences an attack. Find out the risks and causes as well.

Malnutrition
Malnutrition

Malnutrition results from a poor diet or inability to absorb nutrients. The WHO say it is the gravest single threat to global public health. It can also result from environmental and medical conditions, such as mental health problems, and alcoholism.

image: unicef.org
Perinatal Mortality
Perinatal Mortality

Causes of maternal mortality The major direct causes of maternal morbidity and mortality include haemorrhage, infection, high blood pressure, unsafe abortion, and obstructed labour. These complications may arise unexpectedly. Investing in health systems - especially in training midwives and in making emergency obstetric care available round-the-clock - is key to reducing maternal mortality.

source: who.int
Depression
Depression

Depression in someone who has the biological vulnerability to develop depression may result from personal conflicts or disputes with family members or friends. Death or a loss. Sadness or grief from the death or loss of a loved one, though natural, may increase the risk of depression. Genetics. A family history of depression may increase the risk.

source: webmd.com
Respiratory Disease
Respiratory Disease

Just 10 diseases account for almost three-quarters of all deaths in the U.S. Heart disease is the biggest killer, followed by cancer, then chronic lower respiratory disease. The tenth disease on the list is suicide.

Bronchitis
Bronchitis

Other causes of similar symptoms include asthma, pneumonia, bronchiolitis, bronchiectasis, and COPD. A chest X-ray may be useful to detect pneumonia. Another common sign of bronchitis is a cough which lasts ten days to three weeks. If the cough lasts a month or a year, it may become chronic bronchitis. In addition, a fever may be present.

image: snipview.com
Hypertensive Heart Disease
Hypertensive Heart Disease

Hypertensive heart disease refers to heart conditions caused by high blood pressure. The heart working under increased pressure causes some different heart disorders. Hypertensive heart disease includes heart failure, thickening of the heart muscle, coronary artery disease, and other conditions.

Acute Disease
Acute Disease

Acute kidney failure can be a life-threatening illness. Chronic renal failure or end-stage renal disease can develop. There’s a greater risk of death if kidney failure is caused by severe infection, trauma, or surgery.