Well the number 1 killer is cardio (heart attack etc,
Number 2 -- cancer. However, this is all cancers lumped together. The word cancer is almost generic as each type of cancer is really a seperate disease itself.
Number 3 -- stroke
Risk factors for all the above can be both genetic and lifestyle. Some individuals / races etc... are more prone to certain conditions / diseases (blame on your parents). However, there are some risk factors that everyone can control and thus personal accountability comes into play.
I heard diabetes mentioned above in a coupple replies. Yes, diabetes can be deadly if it is not under controlled. Just think, we did not even understand anything about diabetes some 100 years ago. People for the most part would wither away and die. Of course, this was primarily Type 1 Diabetes (or what some mistakenly call Juvenile Diabetes) People with Type 1 Diabetes must receive insulin or they will die. Their pancrease does not produce insulin. Amazingly enough that insulin was only "discovered" in the early 1900's. Of course, there are sythetic insulins used now. In the early days people with diabetes received dog or hog insulin. And, you shpould have seen the first "needles they used -- looked more like nails. It is amazing how far we've come with new insulins, smaller needles and now the diabetes pump - all this in just the last 100 years.
Type II - thats a we bit different story. Their pancreas does produce insulin, howver, their body does not use it properly. Type 2 is the biggie in the US (and the world) Of the 24 million in the US living with diabetes -- about 90-95% is Type 2.
Diabetes is scary in that it leads to so many other conditions -- leading cause of heart attack and stroke -- in fact 2 of 3 people woith diabetes will die from a stroke or heart attack. So -- who should get the "credit" for cause of death -- heart attack / stroke or diabetes?
It is also the leading cause of non-traumatic amputations, blindness in adults, kideney failure -- you can go on and on.
Like the three big killers (I think diabetes is number 5 or 6) -- there are both controllable and genetic risk factors.
There are non-profits that raise money for research for a cure and how to manage all the conditions better. However, IMO, they do not work well together instead work as silos and compete for dollars and human capital.
A cure for diseaes / conditions in the near future -- Who knows but we will continue to get closer and more importantly better help those that have these diseases not just live longer but live good lives.
