The top 5 causes of death in the US (pre-COVID-19) are heart disease, cancer, respiratory diseases, stroke and unintentional injuries (accidents). The top 2 alone—heart disease and cancer—account for nearly half of all deaths. Out of 2.5 million deaths each year, 1.4 million are considered premature—before age 80. 34% percent of deaths from the number one killer—heart disease—are considered preventable according to the CDC. They could have been prevented or delayed through changes in health habits—including blood pressure control, cholesterol control and reduction of sodium intake. Cancer is a close second in causing death—accounting for 23% of all deaths. According to a recent study, more than 44% of cancer deaths are preventable. The biggest contributors are smoking, alcohol use and obesity. Respiratory diseases, such as COPD, caused 6% of all deaths, and smoking is a primary risk factor. Stroke accounted for 5% of all deaths, and 33% of these deaths were considered preventable through similar measures as heart disease prevention. Accidents accounted for about 5% of all deaths, with motor vehicle crashes, drug overdoses and falls among older adults being the leading types. One-third of automobile deaths were caused by drinking and driving.

In 2020, COVID-19 emerged to be the third-leading cause of death in the US—accounting for over 10% of all deaths. According to one report, your chance of dying without the vaccine is 8 times greater than with the vaccine, so these deaths are now largely preventable.

The good news is that there are a number of steps you can take today to avoid some of the biggest killers out there. Hopefully, we can extend our longevity by knowing what to look out for.