In a significant milestone for public health, COVID-19 has officially fallen out of the top 10 causes of death in the United States for the first time since the pandemic began, according to fresh data from the U.S. government for 2024.

Heart disease and cancer remain the relentless top contenders, overshadowing all other causes with staggering figures: a combined total of over 1.3 million deaths last year alone. Heart disease claimed 683,037 lives, while cancer was responsible for 619,812.

While unintentional injuries have taken the third spot on the list, a troubling trend has emerged—suicide has entered the top 10 for the first time, pushing COVID-19 out of this concerning ranking.

Dr. Eric Topol, an esteemed figure in the medical community and director at Scripps Research, emphasized the ongoing threat of heart disease in a recent interview, stating, "Heart disease is still number one, and it's definitely not going in the right direction." He also highlighted that thousands are still succumbing to COVID-19.

Following unintentional injuries, the ranking continues with stroke, chronic lower respiratory diseases, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, kidney disease, chronic liver disease, and cirrhosis.

Dr. Topol notes that a significant number of these leading causes are preventable through simple lifestyle adjustments, like diet and exercise. "These numbers are not encouraging," he remarked, pointing to the reality that a staggering 75% of the population fails to meet even minimal exercise recommendations.

Despite the overall drop in death rates, stark disparities remain. Black Americans still face the highest mortality rates across racial and ethnic groups, and men suffer from considerably higher death rates than women, with 844.8 deaths per 100,000 compared to 613.5 for women.

Topol also voiced concern about the U.S. health landscape, stating, "Our health outcomes still lag behind many other countries, particularly regarding chronic disease prevention, life expectancy, and maternal and infant mortality rates." He lamented the cuts in federal funding for health research, stating, "The reduction of research support isn't going to help matters. Where is the prevention?"