Cancer Kills More Than Heart Disease, Study Says: ; Deaths From Both Have Decreased

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Report summary KILLER DISEASES: Cancer has surpassed heart disease as the leading cause of death of Americans under age 85. Health officials say a decline in smoking and better drugs and procedures for heart patients are the reason. THE GOOD NEWS: Deaths from both diseases have fallen, but heart deaths have fallen faster. THE BAD NEWS: Smoking and obesity rates still are high, keeping both diseases major threats to health.

For the first time, cancer has surpassed heart disease as the top killer of Americans under 85, health officials said Wednesday. The good news is that deaths from both are falling, but improvement has been more dramatic for heart disease.

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Cancer Kills More Than Heart Disease, Study Says: ; Deaths From Both Have Decreased

"It's dropping fast enough that another disease is eclipsing it," said Dr. Walter Tsou, president of the American Public Health Association.

The single biggest reason: fewer smokers.

The news is contained i...

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