College Times

Issue date: 4/30/09 Section: Top 10s

Maybe this will calm your fears. Here's a list of the leading causes of death in the United States compiled by the CDC. Okay, so influenza does happen to fall number eight on this list. But, think of it this way - you have seven more likely ways to hit the bucket. So stop panicking!

10. Septicemia (aka the presence of bacteria in the blood) - 34,136 deaths

9. Nephritis (aka inflammation of the kidney) - 43,901 deaths

8. Influenza/Pneumonia - 63,001 deaths
Okay, the good news is that deaths from influenza primarily tend to target people age 65 years and older, people with chronic medical conditions, pregnant women and young children. (Hopefully you're not one of the latter.)

7. Alzheimer's disease - 71,599 deaths
You are more likely to forget that the swine flu outbreak ever existed before you die from it.

6. Diabetes - 75,119 deaths
You are more likely to contract diabetes, probably after sitting in front of the television 24/7 listening to the media frenzy talk about the swine flu.

5. Accidents -117,809 deaths
You are more likely to be hit by a drunk driver before you die from the swine flu.

4. Chronic lower respiratory diseases - 130,933 deaths
You are more likely to die from cigarettes (smoking accounts for 80 percent of all cases) before you die from swine flu.

3. Stroke - 143,579 deaths
You are more likely to have a stroke panicking about the swine flu.

2. Cancer - 559,312 deaths
You are more likely to get skin cancer from the intense Arizona sun.

1. Heart disease - 652,091 deaths
And finally, you are more likely to die from high blood cholesterol than from the dreaded swine flu.

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