This Chart Shows How You Are Likely to Die.
Wondering how you are most likely to die? Skip online quizzes and painful daydreams and satisfy your curiosity with this grim government chart.
The data comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which tracks injuries (fatal and others) because, like illness, they can kill you. The white squares above are diseases and health conditions; colored squares refer to injuries.
For older people, the main causes of death are heart disease, cancer (“malignant neoplasms”) and lung disease. Influenza and pneumonia are in the top ten for every age group, with the exception of the youngest children who have a lot to worry about. (What did we say about not neglecting the flu shot ?) For young people, these health reasons are still important, but unintentional injuries win.
If you are concerned about what injuries to look out for, the CDC breaks down that data further:
For adults in their twenties and thirties, the main causes are unintentional poisoning (including drug overdose), car accidents, and various forms of homicide and suicide. You can find more interesting data in this vein, including an interactive mapping tool, at the link below. Stay safe there.
Top 10 Causes of Death and Injury | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention