Learning about all-cause mortality and the leading causes of death can help you make healthier choices.
This article discusses the risk factors for all-cause mortality along with how to minimize your risk of certain causes.
Understanding All-Cause Mortality
The wordmortalitymeans death.
David Sacks / Stone / Getty Images
All-cause mortality often comes up when discussing statistical results.
What Does Lower All-Cause Mortality Mean?
More than four out of five cardiovascular disease (CVD) deaths are due to heart attacks and strokes.
One-third of CVD deaths occur in people who are younger than 70.
Accidental injuries include unintentional poisonings (i.e.
drug overdoses), vehicular and traffic accidents, accidental drownings, and falls.
Here are the leading factors that increase your mortality risk broken down by causes of death.
Some risk factors are common to several causes of death.
Others are both risk factors and causes.
As you review this chart, it’s important to remember that these are not theonlyrisk factors.
At least 70 chemicals in cigarettes and tobacco products have been identified as cancer-causing.
Quitting smoking at any age can lower the risk of cancer mortality.
Intense physical activities include jogging or running, swimming laps, or jumping rope.
UV rays come from the sun and artificial sources, most notably tanning beds.
It should go without saying that you should avoid tanning beds at all costs.
Avoiding the sun can be a little more tricky.
Adults (18 to 65) should have a physical exam every one to five years at minimum.
At age 65, health screenings should take place at least once per year.
Depending on your age, you may need to have other screenings done.
Many conditions related to mortality can be avoided or delayed, or the risk reduced through healthy lifestyle choices.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Cancer deaths.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Injuries and violence are leading causes of death.
2019 Jun;43(3):319-341. doi:10.4093/dmj.2018.0060
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chronic kidney disease basics.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis.
American Heart Association.Understand your risks to prevent a heart attack.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Cancer risk factors.
Boehme A, Esenwa C, Elkind M.Stroke risk factors, genetics, and prevention.Circ Res.
2017 Feb;120(3):472-495. doi:10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.116.308398
World Health Organization.Chronic respiratory disease.
Armstrong R.Risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease.Folia Neuropathol.
2021 Mar;19(1):1759-1785. doi:10.1016/j.csbj.2021.03.003
National Institute on Aging.What causes Alzheimer’s disease?.
2022 Feb;14(4):898. doi:10.3390/nu14040898
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Adult activity: An overview.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Ultraviolet radiation.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Sunscreen and your morning routine.
Mount Sinai.Physical exam frequency.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Screening for colorectal cancer.
Allen NB, et al.
Favorable Cardiovascular Health, Compression of Morbidity, and Healthcare Costs.
2017;135:1693-1701. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.116.026252
Arnson Y, et al.
Impact of Exercise on the Relationship Between CAC Scores and All-Cause Mortality.
- pii:S1936-878X(17)30350-9. doi:10.1016/j.jcmg.2016.12.030.
