Distinctive Causes of Death For The US 50 States

Thanks to data provided by the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, a study published in the journal Preventing Chronic Disease, now reveal what are the most distinctive causes of death by state.

Like in the rest of developed countries, most lethal disease adversary of humans, are cancer and cardiovascular diseases, but the study presented still revealed some new findings. 

For instance, although cancer and heart disease kill more Americans overall, in some cases you might find that these two illnesses are the least of the concerns.

Here are some of the most distinctive diseases that kill people besides cancer and heart disease.

In states such as Maine, the Dakotas, Wyoming and other northern states, the most distinctive causes of death were Influenza and other Upper Respiratory Tract Infections.

In Florida, 15,000 people dies because of the infection with the HIV virus, thus making it the lead killer for this state.

In Alaska and Idaho, more population had a chance to die because of boat and plane accidents than of any other disease. The study also revealed that lethal plane accidents are seven times more likely to take place in Alaska than in any other state.

In mining states (Kentucky, West Virginia and Pennsylvania) professional lung diseases killed the most residents. Professional lung diseases are called pneumoconiosis and some examples of chronic illnesses from this group are silicosis, asbestosis and anthracosis (also known as miner`s lung disease).

These types of diseases are caused by inhalation small particles of dust, which cannot be eliminated from the lung. They become lodged in the lung and might cause an allergic reaction. As time goes by, it becomes harder and harder for a person to breathe. Some of these diseases (asbestosis, in particular) are known to cause cancer.

In states such as Oregon, Nevada and New Mexico, most distinctive deaths were found to be caused by the police and were part of the so-called legal intervention category of deaths. In this category, legal executions are not accounted for.

In New Jersey, the most distinctive cause of death was sepsis. Sepsis represents the inflammation of the entire body, caused by an infection, which has spiraled out of control and which makes the body go into overdrive and depletes its resources.

A special situation presented itself in Oklahoma, where many of the cardiovascular causes of deaths were filled into the wrong category, but now that this problem has been revealed, it can be dealt with swiftly. 

Image Source: livescience