The Top 20 Leading Causes of Death in Arizona

Sometimes, it takes a catastrophic health crisis to wake us up and decide to make changes. Recently, a close family member of mine began battling a severe, debilitating illness following a surgical procedure.

Complications Following Surgery

My aunt had heart surgery about two years ago. The surgery itself didn't cause her illness. In fact, it went very well. However, it revealed complications and sped up the progression of an illness she didn't know she had.

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Before the surgery, she'd been a vibrant, intelligent woman who was passionate about her hobbies and enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren.

After the surgery, she developed cognitive disorders, which eventually led to Lewy Body dementia. Looking back, there were a host of lifestyle clues that may have been factors leading to her decline.

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Aunt Meg battled her weight most of her life, and while working in restaurants kept her reasonably active, she became highly sedentary when she retired. She also battled other health conditions like hypertension and high cholesterol and had a fairly poor diet most of her life.

Did these factors contribute to her illness? It's hard to tell, but it made me think about my lifestyle choices and what I can do now to prevent some of the leading causes of illness and death.

Health Factors That Lead to Death in Arizona

I'm not alone. It's hard to watch a close relative battle a dire illness, but it brought some scary realities to light. During her journey I've started to rethink my own habits. I know a lot of people in Arizona are becoming more health-conscious as well.

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Making small or significant changes to the way we eat, exercise, and care for our mental health can help prevent some significant health impacts down the road. Some of these illnesses are preventable if you take steps early.

Sources: CDC | USA Facts | Arizona Department of Health Services (AZDHS)