In 2014, the leading killer diseases were heart disease, cancer, stroke, breathing-related problems and accidents. Together, it all accounted for more than sixty percent of all recorded deaths. In each of those categories, however, a substantial number of deaths could have been avoided.
According to the report, the number of potentially preventable deaths from 3 leading causes of deaths – heart disease, cancer and stroke – have declined from 2010 to 2014. In contrast, a sharp rise has been observed in deaths from accidents or unintentional injuries, mainly because of opioid overdoses.
The Top 5 Causes Of Death In The U.S.
“Fewer Americans are dying young from preventable causes of death,” said CDC Director Thomas R. Frieden. He has been since 2009 the Director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Acting Administrator of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.
“Tragically, deaths from overdose are increasing because of the opioid epidemic, and there are still large differences between states in all preventable causes of deaths, indicating that many more lives can be saved through the use of prevention and treatment available today,” he added.
Each year, nearly 900,000 Americans die prematurely from the five leading causes of death – yet 20 percent to 40 percent of the deaths from each cause could be prevented, according to a study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The five leading causes of death in the United States are heart disease, cancer, chronic lower respiratory diseases, stroke, and unintentional injuries. Together they accounted for 63 percent of all U.S. deaths in 2010, with rates for each cause varying greatly from state to state.
Preventing Premature Deaths
"As a doctor, it is heartbreaking to lose just one patient to a preventable disease or injury – and it is that much more poignant as the director of the nation’s public health agency to know that far more than a hundred thousand deaths each year are preventable," said Frieden.
The agency suggested that health care providers can help prevent premature deaths by providing patients with counseling on quitting smoking, protecting against heart disease and stroke, avoiding accidental injuries and teaching basic knowledge on first aid.
