What’s killing us? Top causes of death are the same throughout the area

Jeff Broddle | Cadillac News Liz Thompson is saving her own life and warding off the leading cause of death, heart disease, by eating an apple for lunch.

One out of every two deaths in the area can be attributed to heart disease or cancer.

Heart disease is the top cause of death in Wexford, Missaukee, Osceola and Lake counties. It left 234 people dead in 2005.

Cancer ranked second among causes of death, attributing to 186 deaths in the four-county area in 2005.

Among the death rates for each area, Lake County ranked the highest in the four-county area. Its rates of 273.5 per 100,000 people for heart disease and 224.6 for cancer rank significantly higher than the statewide rate of 236.5 and 193.4.

Following the top two causes of death, chronic lower respiratory disease ranks third in the region while stroke, diabetes and unintentional injuries are fourth, depending on the county.

So what does all this really mean?

Do the area’s top two killers do so without discretion?

Most likely, it’s a little of column A and a little of column B. In Lake, Missaukee, Osceola and Wexford counties, the top two causes of death are heart disease and cancer.

Although heredity plays a big role in determining a person’s susceptibility to either, personal choices are a big component.

“The biggest factor leading to all that is smoking,” said Dr. James Wilson, medical director for District Health Department No. 10. “Then, there is poor appetite, development of diabetes related to being overweight and underactive and a lack of early detection for cancer.”

The good news is that every local county but Lake has lower cancer rates than the state average of 193.4 deaths per 100,000 people. Lake and Missaukee both best the state average of heart disease of 236.5 per 100,000.

In 2005, 140 people died of either heart disease or cancer in Wexford County; 80 in Missaukee County; 117 in Osceola County; and 83 in Lake County.

Lake County’s overall death rate of 1,025 people per 100,000 far eclipses area counties. Wexford’s death rate is 815; Missaukee’s death rate is 829; and Osceola’s death rate is 790.

Following the top two causes of death, chronic lower respiratory disease ranks third in every county. It’s another cause of death Wilson attributes to poor lifestyle decisions.

“The system of advertising in this country pitches poor lifestyle choices to the children,” Wilson said. “It’s nice that Shrek is used by public health to get people moving but they also use Shrek to sell sugar-flavored cereals.”

Stroke and diabetes are generally among the top five and also are areas where poor lifestyle choices can ultimately lead to death.

After illnesses, unintentional injuries rank in the top five in three local counties.

Modern society may be partly to blame, Wilson said.

“Unintended injuries also are being promoted by TV in shows that encourage people to be adrenaline junkies,” he said.

When he sees youngsters riding dirt bikes, odds are the vehicles will become “crotch rockets and some of them will die,” he said.

Ages of death

In Lake County, 164 people died in 2005, 144 were 50 or older and five were 19 or younger.

In Missaukee County, 145 people died in 2005, 138 were 50 or older and three were 19 or younger.

In Osceola County, 217 people died in 2005, 201 were 50 or older and five were 19 or younger.

In Wexford County, 296 people died in 2005, 261 were 50 or older and 12 were 19 or younger.

Your local connection

Death statistics, 2005

LAKE COUNTY