Final answer:
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for women worldwide due to a variety of heart and blood vessel-related conditions. Although cancer also significantly contributes to global mortality rates, especially in developed countries, it ranks behind cardiovascular diseases on a global scale.
Step-by-step explanation:
The leading cause of death for women of all ages worldwide is Cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease includes a variety of conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels, such as coronary artery disease and stroke. This group of diseases is the foremost killer globally, accounting for about 30 percent of all deaths. Risk factors for cardiovascular disease are numerous, ranging from genetic predispositions to lifestyle choices such as diet, exercise, and smoking.
While cancer is also a significant cause of mortality, especially in higher-income countries where it causes more deaths than cardiovascular diseases, it doesn't surpass cardiovascular diseases at the global scale. Preventive measures can be implemented to reduce the risk of both cardiovascular diseases and cancers, as many of them are associated with modifiable lifestyle factors.