Cancer becoming number one killer

New statistics show that cancer is becoming the number one killer in more states across the United States. This comes as deaths from heart disease have declined. Across the nation, heart disease is still the leading cause of death. And fortunately, death rates for both have been dropping for about 25 years. However, heart disease has dropped at a higher rate.

In 2014, cancer became the top killer in 22 states, according to the latest statistics from the government. It is the leading cause of death among numerous racial populations including Hispanics and Asians as well as adults ages 40 to 79, according to the American Cancer Society.

Since 1991 when cancer death rates were at an all-time high, the cancer death rate has fallen 23 percent. The decline in cancer deaths rates is associated with the reduction in smoking rates as well as advances in cancer detection, treatment and prevention. In that same time, the heart disease death rate fell 46 percent.

Other leading causes of death:

1.     Heart Disease

§  Leading cause of death for men in the United States

§  50% of men who die of heart disease have no previous symptoms.

§  Between 70% and 89% of sudden cardiac events occur in men.

§  Leading risk factors: High LDL cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking, and diabetes are some of the risk factors for heart disease.

2.     Stroke

§  Third leading cause of death in the United States.

§  Stroke death rates are higher for African-Americans than for whites, even at younger ages.

§  Each year, about 795,000 people suffer a stroke. 

§  Leading risk factors: High blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, carotid or other artery disease, atrial fibrillation or other heart disease, TIAs (mini-strokes), high red blood cell count, sickle cell anemia, high cholesterol, physical inactivity, obesity, excessive alcohol intake and some illegal drugs.

3.     Diabetes

§  29.1 million people in the United States have diabetes, and 8.1 million may be undiagnosed and unaware of their condition.

§  1.7 million new cases of diabetes were diagnosed in U.S. adults in 2012.

§  Leading risk factors: Obesity, physical inactivity, family history, race (African-Americans, Hispanics, American Indians and Asian-Americans are at higher risk), age, and high blood pressure.

4.     Depression and Suicide

§  Highest among white males.

§  Four times higher among men than women.

§  Eight leading cause of death among men; higher for younger men.

§  Leading risk factors: Mental health conditions, substance abuse, or serious or chronic health conditions.

5.     COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)

§  80-90% of COPD deaths are caused by smoking.

§  Men are nearly 12 times as likely to die from COPD then men who don’t smoke.

§  Leading risk factors: Smoking.