By Hamodia Staff

Covid, once one of the leading causes of death in the United States, has fallen from fourth to tenth place, according to CDC records.

The virus, which caused a global pandemic and upheaval in politics, the economy and society at large in 2020, was listed on 49,928 death certificates in 2023, compared to 186,552 the previous year. In 2021, the pandemic reached its peak, claiming 416,893 lives nationwide.

Three million people died last year, with heart disease and cancer being cited as the main causes.

Heart disease increased by 0.4% from 2019 to 2023, with 680,909 deaths due to it in 2023.

Dr. David Majure, medical director of the heart transplant program at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, told the New York Post that heart disease needs to be taken more seriously.

“Cardiovascular disease is a slow killer that leads to premature death over time,” Majure told the Post. “Significantly reducing the number of cardiovascular diseases will require more than solutions in clinics or hospitals.” He advised people to improve their diet, exercise more and take steps to prevent high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

The third leading cause of death was “unintentional injuries,” with the rate increasing 26.3% between 2019 and 2023, due to a significant increase in fatal drug overdoses, the Post reported.