"15 Most Common Causes of Death in the World."

"15 Most Common Causes of Death in the World." 15 September 2007.

You never just how you're gonna go, but odds are it's one of these 15 causes of death. According to the World Health Organization's World Health Report, these 15 causes of death make up about 58 percent of all deaths.

Cause Percent of total
1. Ischemic heart disease 12.6
2. Cerebrovascular diseases 9.7
3. Lower respiratory infections (e.g., pneumonia) 6.8
4. HIV/AIDS 4.9
5. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 4.8
6. Diarrheal diseases 3.2
7. Tuberculosis 2.7
8. Malaria (tied) 2.2
9. Cancer of trachea/bronchus/lung (tied) 2.2
10. Road traffic accidents 2.1
11. Childhood diseases 2.0
12. other unintentional injuries (tied) 1.6
13. Hypertensive heart disease (tied) 1.6
14. Suicide (tied) 1.5
15. Stomach cancer (tied)

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WHO: heart, infectious diseases, cancer kill most

Updated Mon. Oct. 27 2008 12:53 PM ET

The Associated Press

GENEVA -- Heart ailments, infectious diseases and cancer remain the world's top three killers, the UN health agency said Monday.

Heart attacks and related problems are the top killer, claiming 29 per cent of people who die each year, the World Health Organization said in a report on the global burden of disease. In second place, infectious diseases lead to 16.2 per cent of worldwide deaths.

Cancer, in third, claims 12.6 per cent of global deaths, said the 146-page report, which is based on death registration data from 112 countries and estimates where reporting is incomplete.

The figures are from 2004, the most recent records available on a wide scale, officials from WHO said. But the rankings are unchanged since 1990 when WHO first did a global check.

Colin Mathers, WHO expert and lead author of the report, said he believed infectious diseases used to be the leading killer 20 to 40 years ago, but that he did not have statistics to back it up.

Some 58.8 million people died worldwide in 2004, most of them over 60, the report said. Nearly one in five deaths was a child under five.

The heart disease death rate was virtually unchanged from WHO's previous study on death causes, based on 2002 figures.

The rate for infectious diseases dropped from 2002, when they accounted for 19.1 of the world's deaths, partly because estimates for AIDS deaths were revised downward last year, said Mathers.

"Malaria deaths are also somewhat lower, and some of the other child causes have also come down a bit," Mathers said, adding that the number of deaths from measles has dropped thanks to wider use of vaccination.

Women die more often from heart disease than men. The rate for females is 31.5 per cent, and for males 26.8 per cent, the report said.

Mathers said the percentage for women was higher because there were more women living at older ages than men.

But in general, men are more affected by heart diseases, he said.

"Men in many parts of the world have a higher risk," he said, adding that they are more often overweight or obese, get insufficient physical activity and eat more fat and salt.

Filling out the top 12 causes of death are respiratory infections including pneumonia in fourth place, 7.2 per cent; respiratory diseases, including asthma and allergies, 6.9 per cent; accidental injuries and drownings, 6.6 per cent; newborn health problems, 5.4 per cent; digestive diseases, 3.5 per cent; suicide, murder and conflict, 2.8 per cent; neuropsychiatric disorders, 2.1 per cent; diabetes, 1.9 per cent; and maternal health problems related to pregnancy or birth 0.9 per cent.

Dr. Ties Boerma, who heads the agency's statistics department, said there is always a time delay in assembling such data from a number of countries.

"Countries have a backlog of two, three years in publicizing their own information," he said.

In countries where no death registration data are available, the figures are taken from research studies, which take a few years to get published, Boerma said.

The most common disease in the world :

The most common disease in the world :

by RUTH EASTMAN, femail.co.uk

Is your smile as healthy as you think?

You may try your best to keep fit and healthy, pay attention to your diet and follow all the latest medical advice.

But the chances are you are probably suffering from the most common disease in the world.

Gum disease affects a staggering nine out of ten of us. And while it sounds innocuous, developed cases are now being linked with everything from premature birth to stomach ulcers, pneumonia, coronary artery disease and strokes.

Here is our guide to the disease - from how to spot it, treat it and prevent it - to the research linking it to more serious conditions.

What is gum disease?
There are two main types of gum disease: gingivitis and periodontitis. Gingivitis is the less serious condition, which if left unchecked can develop into the more serious condition periodontitis.

The problem is caused by bacteria in plaque (the clear, sticky film that forms on your teeth) which starts to attack the gums. If the milder form of gum disease is left untreated the plaque spreads and grows below the gum line.

Toxins produced by the bacteria aggravate the gums, and the tissue and bone that anchor the tooth in the affected area break down. When gum and bone erode away, the root of the tooth becomes visible (hence the expression 'long in the tooth').

'Gum disease isn't something you pick up,' says one leading London dentist. 'It's a slow-growing degenerative condition of people who don't brush their teeth properly. It's probably 90 per cent preventable. It's also age-related. A lot of the cases I see are people of 35 and onwards, but you can prevent it when you're young through good oral hygiene.'

What evidence is there linking gum disease to other illnesses?
Since 1998 a wide range of research from America has pointed the finger at gum disease as a dangerous trigger for coronary artery disease, strokes, pneumonia, stomach ulcers and even premature birth.

Although research is still ongoing, it is thought that the toxins in the infected gum enter the bloodstream, travel to the relevant parts of the body and damage occurs through inflammation or an immune response.

In the case of premature birth, research at the University of North Carolina showed that 18.2 per cent of women who went into labour early had gum disease. The toxins, it was suggested, reach the placenta which causes premature labour.

How to spot gum disease
You'll know you have gum disease if you have bad breath, your gums become red and swollen, and you bleed when you brush. 'Many people think bleeding gums are normal,' says specialist periodontist Amanda Biddle. 'But they are not at all. They are a sign of gum disease.'

To test if you have bad breath lick your wrist, wait a few seconds until it dries, then sniff it. No smell, no problem.

How to treat it
If you think you have gum disease go to see your dentist and ask them to perform a gum check. If you do have serious gum disease your dentist may well refer you to a periodontist. Some periodontal surgery is available on the NHS.

Your dentist or periodontist will remove the accumulated plaque (tartar) and tell you how to brush more effectively to prevent the disease taking hold. They'll also recommend dental floss and possibly 'interdental' brushes - thin toothbrushes to get in between the teeth. Anti-bacterial mouthwashes also keep the enemy at bay.

In advanced cases of periodontitis surgery may be required to clean underneath the gum and to reposition the gum. The tooth may even need replacing.

How to prevent it
Dr John Smith, a periodontist who also practises in London, advises brushing with soft bristles and a gentle action. 'Never use a hard toothbrush,' he says. 'It's abrasive on the

teeth and could cause the gums to recede. Look for a fluoride toothpaste that has anti-plaque, or anti-plaque and anti-tartar agents. Whitening agents do nothing to help gums.'

Other advice includes making sure you brush your teeth for two minutes both in the morning and at night in a methodical way. 'Don't forget you need to brush both sides of the teeth and on both the left and the right sides of your mouth and all the way to the back,' says Amanda Biddle. 'Many people who think they brush well in fact only brush certain areas of their mouth every day and for far less than the recommended two minutes.'

NHS dental treatment is still free for those under 18, or under 19 and still in full-time education, so if you think your child could do with an oral hygiene lesson it won't cost a thing to find out.