CAUSES OF DEATH, USA, 2002
(1) heart attack (mainly) 28.5%
(2) cancer 22.8%
(3) stroke 6.7%
(4) emphysema, chronic bronchitis 5.1%
(5) accidents 4.4%
(6) diabetes 3.0%
(7) flu & pneumonia 2.7%
(8) Alzheimer's senility 2.4%
(9) kidney disease 1.7%
(10) systemic infection 1.4%
(11) suicide 1.3%
(12) liver disease 1.1%
(13) high blood pressure 0.8%
(14) homicide 0.7%
(15) other 17.4%
And here's a scary part:
NOTE: Not included in the above rankings is deaths due to iatrogenic causes -- ie, mistakes caused by the actions of health professionals -- which by some estimates is the third leading cause of death in the United States
What to do? Well....
It is estimated that at least 55% of the sex differential in total mortality can be attributed to behavioral differences in the use of tobacco, alcohol, guns and cars. Males probably also face a higher rate of occupational deaths due to accidents, homicides and toxicities. Nonetheless, homicide is the leading occupational cause of death for women.
Tobacco use and diet/exercise are the behavioral influences that most strongly contribute to (or delay) death -- because cardiovascular disease & cancer are the leading causes of death.
And finally:
COUNTRIES WITH THE HIGHEST ANNUAL ACCIDENTAL DEATH RATES, MID-1990s
(1) Russian Federation 130.8
(2) Hungary 74.3
(3) Romania 61.8
(4) Czech Republic 56.7
(5) Slovenia 55.2
COUNTRIES WITH THE LOWEST ANNUAL ACCIDENTAL DEATH RATES, MID-1990s
(1) Bahamas 17.9
(2) United Kingdom 20.5
(3) Netherlands 22.0
(4) Israel 27.3
(5) Australia 24.6
I've been trying to decide where to retire to, Russia or the Bahamas????? I guess I'll play it safe and go with the Bahamas.
