The New Leading Causes of Death

In recent years, there has been a major drift in both the trends of chronic disease states and the causes of death in the United States.1 These changes reflect differences in lifestyle and behavioral choices. The major causes of death are not due to cancers or car accidents, but rather the poor management of habits that can lead to lifelong health problems such as heart disease and diabetes. A few examples of these bad habits are smoking, poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, and excessive alcohol consumption.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) tracks trends of health-related behaviors and risks, with two public surveys: the telephone-based Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) and the interview-based National Health Interview Survey. Data collected from the BRFSS survey is compiled to create the Selected Metropolitan and Micropolitan Area Risk Trends (SMART) report. All data collected allows the CDC to identify problems in specific communities and allocate resources purposely.

The results of these CDC surveys along with a recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) show that the leading actual causes of death are due to frequently preventable causes.
In 2000, the most common causes of death in the United States were,1,2,3

• Tobacco (18.1%)
• Poor diet/sedentary lifestyle (16.6%)
• Alcohol consumption (3.5%)
• Infections (3.1%)
• Exposure to toxins (2.3%)
• Motor vehicle accidents (1.8%)
• Firearms (1.2%)
• Sexual behavior (0.8%)
• Illicit drug use (0.7%)

Although deaths from infections, toxins, motor vehicle accidents and firearms are less predictable, deaths related to tobacco, diet, lack of exercise, excessive alcohol, sexual behavior, and drug use are absolutely avoidable. Another recent survey found that heart disease, stroke, chronic lower respiratory disease, diabetes and kidney diseases are the major chronic disease states in the United States.2

Tobacco use is consistently the top cause of death. However, chronic disease due to obesity and inactivity has been steadily rising over the past ten years, from 14% to 16.6%. This significant increase in morbidity secondary to obesity can be prevented with lifestyle modifications such as improved diet, daily exercise, abstaining from smoking and minimizing alcohol intake.

The CDC is currently working with numerous national health organizations to design plans and programs that encourage healthier lifestyle choices while focusing on chronic disease prevention.
It is my strong opinion that with as little as 2-3 hours per week clocked-in at the gym, the United States can make strides toward becoming a healthier nation.

References:

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/factsheets/death_causes2000.htm accessed 3/17/04.
2. Minino AM, et al. Deaths: final data for 2000. National Vital Statistics Reports 2002; 50(15):1-120.
3. Mokdad AH, et al. Actual causes of death in the United States, 2000. JAMA. 2004; 291(10):1238-1246.
4. American Medical Association. www.jama.ama-assn.org accessed 3/17/04.