It is interesting and, even more, curious to hear everyone obsess over how esoteric and rare conditions can potentially kill you. Word to the wise: Common things happen commonly.  I’m going to make this a very simple post (with links to previous Straight, No Chaser posts covering the individual topics in greater detail). Let’s help you extend your life expectancy by offering very simple tips (three to five for each) to prevent and combat the five most common causes of death. This list is by no means comprehensive, but if you follow the achievable steps mentioned, you’ll be much better off than if you don’t.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), here are the five most common causes of death in the United States for the year ending 2010. (It takes awhile to compile data, but these are basically the leading causes year after year.) I’ve also included the number of annual deaths per condition.

• Heart disease (e.g., heart attack): 597,689
• Cancer (all cases): 574,743
• Chronic lower respiratory diseases (e.g., asthma, COPD, emphysema, chronic bronchitis): 138,080
• Stroke (cerebrovascular diseases): 129,476
• Accidents (unintentional injuries): 120,859

Heart disease – Click here to learn early recognition of heart attacks.

• Stop smoking and exposing yourself to second-hand smoke.
• Exercise daily. Walk at least two miles each day. It’s a final common denomination of other problems and is a major contributor to cardiovascular disease. You want your LDL (“bad cholesterol” levels) low and your HDL (“good cholesterol” levels) high. If your LDL and/or overall levels are high, it’s an immediate prompt to reduce your belly, change your diet and exercise more.
• Limit your calories. Never supersize anything. Eat only until you’re full. Learn about healthy plate sizes.

Cancer – Cancer warrants a special comment to get screened! Early detection is the key to survival!

• Don’t use tobacco in any form.
• Eat more fruits and vegetables and less red meat.
• Become physically active: strive for at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity at least five days a week.
• Limit sun exposure and avoid tanning. (Skin cancer is the most common of all cancers.)
• Limit alcohol intake to one to two drinks/day (women and men, respectively).

Chronic lower respiratory diseases

• Stop smoking and exposing yourself to second-hand smoke.
• Get your home tested for radon.
• Follow workplace guidelines for workplace exposures to particles known to cause cancer.

Stroke – Learn early detection.

• Control your blood pressure. This is the most important risk factor in stroke prevention. High blood pressure increases your risk for a stroke four-fold.
• Control your blood sugar levels. Diabetics have a 1.5 times higher risk of stroke.
• Control your cholesterol.
• Stop smoking. Smoking increases your risk for a stroke between 1.5-2.5 times above the risk of non-smokers.
• Control your weight through diet and exercise, which is bundled in each of the first three considerations.

Accidents

• Learn CPR.
• Wear safety belts (shoulder and lap) every trip. Seat belts reduce auto crashes by approximately 50%.
• Stop all distracted driving (drinking, cell phone use, eating, etc.).
• If you’re going to swim, and even if you know how to swim, take a formal lesson that focuses on life-saving maneuvers.
• Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in your home.

There is no fountain of youth. Your cure won’t be found in a bottle, a fad or any other quick fix. It really is about diet, exercise and risk management. The choices you make matter. Remember, although these tips were focused on prevention, early detection and treatment at the time of crisis give you the best chance to survive. Learn early detection of heart attacks and strokes, learn CPR, get screened for cancer and learn how to survive car crashes. It’s not that hard.
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