The CDC reported that nearly two-thirds of deaths in the U.S. are caused by one of the top five. On the other hand, many of these deaths could have been prevented.
The CDC estimates that 30 percent of heart disease, 15 percent of cancer, 28 percent of strokes, 36 percent of lower respiratory diseases, and 43 percent of accidents leading to death could have been prevented.
On the upside, between 2010 and 2014, deaths from the top three killers have been on the decline, whereas accident death rates rose.
CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden explained, “Fewer Americans are dying young from preventable causes of death. Tragically, deaths from overdose are increasing because of the opioid epidemic, and there are still large differences between states in all preventable causes of death, indicating that many more lives can be saved through use of prevention and treatment available today.”
Uncovering preventable deaths helps the CDC develop prevention strategies in order to reduce deaths by these causes.