STUDY EXPLORES COUNTY MORTALITIES : RESIDENTS' LONGEVITY TOPS AVERAGE, LIFESTYLE IMPROVEMENTS CITED.Byline: Christopher Noxon Daily News Staff Writer Ventura County health officials released a comprehensive report Friday that explores a subject that no one has ever fully studied and few enjoy even considering - how we die. Conducted by the Ventura County Department of Health, the analysis of local mortality rates reflects national findings, with cardiovascular diseases, including heart disease and stroke, dominating the most common causes of death. Cancer was the second most frequent killer, divided among lung cancer lung cancer, cancer that originates in the tissues of the lungs. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States in both men and women. Like other cancers, lung cancer occurs after repeated insults to the genetic material of the cell. , colon cancer colon cancer, cancer of any part of the colon (often called the large intestine). Colon cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosed in the United States. and breast cancer. Researchers said the study confirms previous reports that people in Ventura County live healthier and die older than people across the state and nation. Most people die in Ventura County between the age of 75-84. ``We're doing better than almost anywhere else,'' said Dr. Elizabeth Trebow, manager of health statistics. ``We're in the 25 percent lowest for death rates overall.'' But Trebow said the study also confirms a lesson repeated often by doctors: Most deaths are preventable through changes in lifestyle. ``Heart disease is the No. 1 killer across the board,'' she said. ``It wipes out more people than any other disease. The fact is that it's preventable in so many cases - probably more than half are preventable through diet, exercise or not smoking.'' The top non-medical cause of death is motor vehicle crashes, followed by suicide and homicide, all more likely in people under 34. The study also turned up telling differences between the causes of death based on gender, race, age and region. Men are more likely to commit suicide Verb 1. commit suicide - kill oneself; "the terminally ill patient committed suicide" kill - cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly; "This man killed several people when he tried to rob a bank"; "The farmer killed a pig for the holidays" , die in car crashes or fall victim to liver disease Liver Disease Definition Liver disease is a general term for any damage that reduces the functioning of the liver. Description The liver is a large, solid organ located in the upper right-hand side of the abdomen. or AIDS, the report found. Men also experience heart disease at a much younger age than women, with more cases first hitting between the ages of 35 and 44. Women, on the other hand, typically do not begin experiencing heart problems until they are 55 to 64 years old, the report said. The reason for the difference, Trebow said, is rooted in lifestyle. ``Men are more likely to engage in risky behaviors like alcohol and drug abuse than women,'' she said. ``Those behaviors can be lethal rather than just risky.'' Women, on the other hand, succumb more frequently than men to stroke, diabetes and Alzheimer's disease Alzheimer's disease (ăls`hī'mərz, ôls–), degenerative disease of nerve cells in the cerebral cortex that leads to atrophy of the brain and senile dementia. . A study of mortality separated by race found that heart disease, lung cancer and stroke top the list of killers among white people. Among Latinos, heart disease, motor vehicle accidents motor vehicle accident Public health A morbid condition that kills 45,000/yr–US; 60% are < age 35; MVAs account for 500,000 hospitalizations and most 20,000 spinal cord injuries, at a cost of $75 billion/yr and stroke are the leading causes of death, with homicide and infant deaths tied for the sixth and seventh. Trebow said the difference is explained by age differences among racial groups. ``We have a very young Latino community in Ventura County,'' she said. ``They are more likely to die of something other than diseases related to old age. Also many Latino residents return to Latin America Latin America, the Spanish-speaking, Portuguese-speaking, and French-speaking countries (except Canada) of North America, South America, Central America, and the West Indies. to retire or be in their home when they die.'' Regional differences also surfaced in the analysis, with mortality rates available for each city in the county. One noticeable trend, she said, was the higher rate of lung cancer in inland cities than cities near the coast, with lung cancer the second most common cause of death in Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. , Moorpark and Ojai. The report is the third in a series of studies on the health of the county. Previous studies have examined fertility and birth and HIV HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), either of two closely related retroviruses that invade T-helper lymphocytes and are responsible for AIDS. There are two types of HIV: HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 is responsible for the vast majority of AIDS in the United States. and AIDS. Still to come next year is an examination of unintentional injuries and cancer and cardiovascular disease. MORTALITY CAUSES Leading causes of death in Ventura County: 1. Coronary heart disease coronary heart disease: see coronary artery disease. coronary heart disease or ischemic heart disease Progressive reduction of blood supply to the heart muscle due to narrowing or blocking of a coronary artery (see atherosclerosis). 2. Cancer (including lung cancer, colorectal cancer colorectal cancer Malignant tumour of the large intestine (colon) or rectum. Risk factors include age (after age 50), family history of colorectal cancer, chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, benign polyps, physical inactivity, and a diet high in fat. and breast cancer) 3. Stroke 4. Pulmonary disease 5. Pneumonia/influenza 6. Diabetes 7. Car accidents 8. Suicide 9. Liver disease 10. Alzheimer's disease SOURCE: ``1996 Health Status Report for Ventura County - Morbidity and Mortality'' STAYING HEALTHY The top three ways to stay healthy: Not smoking - Smoking contributes to lung cancer, coronary heart disease, pulmonary disease and other illnesses. Balanced diet balanced diet n. A diet that furnishes in proper proportions all of the nutrients necessary for adequate nutrition. balanced diet - Low fat, high carbohydrate diet helps prevent most common causes of death. Regular exercise - Improved circulation helps prevent heart disease, stroke, diabetes and other illnesses. SOURCE: Dr. Elizabeth Trebow, manager of health statistics for the county of Ventura CAPTION(S): 2 Boxes Box: (1) MORTALITY CAUSES (see text) (2) STAYING HEALTHY (see text) |
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