To understand the importance of lifestyle, consider the primary causes of death from chronic diseases:
- Heart disease: 700K per year
- Cancer: 600K per year
- Stroke: 160K per year
- Diabetes: 100K per year
- Alzheimers: 100K per year
Source: CDC
Mortality in the United States, 2021, data table for figure 4
Lifestyle choices are key risk factors
Sources for the above chart:
Heart Disease:
“Heart Disease Risk Factors,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
“Cardiovascular Disease: Risk Factors, Prevention, and Prognosis,” American Heart Association (AHA).
Cancer:
“Cancer Prevention Overview (PDQ®)–Health Professional Version,” National Cancer Institute (NCI).
“Common Cancer Risk Factors,” American Cancer Society (ACS).
Stroke:
“Stroke Risk Factors,” National Stroke Association.
“Stroke Risk Factors and Symptoms,” Mayo Clinic.
Diabetes:
“Risk Factors for Type 2 Diabetes,” American Diabetes Association (ADA).
Diabetes Risk Factors,” World Health Organization (WHO).
Alzheimer’s Disease:
Risk Factors for Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease,” Alzheimer’s Association.
“Alzheimer’s Disease Risk Factors,” National Institute on Aging (NIA).