"Heart disease kills more people than all forms of cancer combined."
If you're asking what the top health problems are, the answers depend on where you live, your gender, racial backgrounds, and many other factors. In 2005, the World Health Organization reported that around 17.5 million people died from cardiovascular disease. This number represented
30% of all global deaths. Today, according to the American Heart Association, heart disease kills more people than all forms of cancer combined. Even though heart disease is the main cause of death in the United States, more than 80% of cardiovascular deaths occurred in low and
middle income countries.
There are a lot of different opinions on the other problems, though, whether problem A should rank higher than problem B or C. However, the top contenders hadn't change much for the last few years. Cancer, stroke, diabetes, injuries, respiratory diseases, and infectious disease remain up there on the score board.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and prevention (CDC), in the end of the year 2009, the top 10 leading cause of death in the United States are:
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| Heart disease remains the leading cause of death. |
- Heart disease: 599.413 deaths
- Cancer: 567.628 deaths
- Chronic lower respiratory diseases: 137.353 deaths
- Stroke (cerebrovascular diseases): 128.842 deaths
- Accidents (unintentional injuries): 118.021 deaths
- Alzheimer's disease: 79.003 deaths
- Diabetes: 68.705 deaths
- Influenza and pneumonia: 53.692 deaths
- Kidney diseases (nephritis, nephrotic syndrome, and nephrosis): 48.935 deaths
- Suicide: 36.909 deaths
The difference between developing and developed countries
While developing countries are winning the war against infectious diseases, developed countries are facing new challenges like major depression leading to suicide and physical inactivity. Under nutrition was, and probably still, an important factor that contributes to child deaths in developing country. In contrary, deaths from obesity related conditions increased to a shocking number in developed countries.
Preventable health risks
However, don't let the bad news discourage you. Most of these top health problems are preventable. In fact, a simple lifestyle changes may be able to make a big difference. According to the World Health Organization, if worldwide preventive effort is employed against some of the major health risks, life expectancy all over the world could increase up to ten years. These so called major preventable health risks include high blood pressure, smoking, alcohol, high cholesterol, and obesity.
Other articles in top health problems:
- There are many ways to prevent heart disease. Studies show that nearly everyone can become more heart healthy by following a few key steps. Read more about preventing heart disease
- It's not easy for a normal cell to turn into a cancer. It all begins with a mutation in the genes, but our body is equipped with other means to prevent it from happening. Read more about how cancer starts
- Obesity increases the risk for cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, and interferes with a person's normal functioning and quality of
life. Read more about obesity overview
