Final answer:
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, while cancer also significantly contributes to mortality rates. Sedentary lifestyles, diets high in trans fats, and smoking are major risk factors for these diseases. Brain injuries are also a significant cause of deaths, especially due to falls and vehicle accidents.
Step-by-step explanation:
There is a high number of heart diseases in the US and the #1 cause of death in hospitals is heart disease. A cardiologist would confirm that heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States, with contributing factors including sedentary lifestyles and high trans-fat diets. In contrast, in low-income countries, the most frequent causes of death for children under five are pneumonia, diarrhea, and other preventable or treatable conditions with adequate healthcare.
Cancer is also one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Skin cancer is the most common among Americans, often linked to overexposure to ultraviolet light from the sun. Lung cancer claims more lives than any other type of cancer in the country, primarily due to tobacco smoking. Similarly, behaviors linked to cancer include alcohol consumption, poor weight control, and dietary habits.
Outside of non-communicable diseases, head and traumatic brain injuries are major causes of immediate death and disability, notably from falls or vehicle accidents.