Heart Disease Dominates Most U.S. States While Cancer Leads in Parts of the Northwest and Northeast, New Map Shows Stark Regional Divide
UNITED STATES — A newly circulated state-by-state map highlighting the most common cause of death across America reveals a clear national divide: heart disease dominates the majority of states, while cancer leads in select regions of the Northwest and Northeast.
The visual breakdown shows most of the country shaded to indicate heart disease as the top cause of death, with fewer states identified where cancer ranks first.
Heart Disease Leads Across the South, Midwest and Much of the West
According to the map, heart disease is the most common cause of death in the vast majority of states, including:
Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska and South Dakota
California, Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico
Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan and Missouri
Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and the Carolinas
Much of the Midwest, the South and large portions of the Mountain West are marked under heart disease. The pattern also extends through much of the Mid-Atlantic region.
Even densely populated states such as Pennsylvania and New Jersey are shown within the heart disease category.
Cancer Leads in the Pacific Northwest and Parts of New England
In contrast, cancer appears as the most common cause of death in a smaller group of states.
The map highlights:
Washington and Oregon in the Pacific Northwest
Idaho and Montana in the Northern Rockies
Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont in Northern New England
Minnesota in the Upper Midwest
Alaska
These states are distinctly marked to indicate cancer surpasses heart disease as the leading cause.
The clustering suggests regional variations in health outcomes and mortality patterns, particularly across northern states.
North Carolina Falls in the Heart Disease Category
For North Carolina residents, the map places the state firmly in the heart disease category, aligning with much of the Southeastern United States.
Neighboring states including South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee and Virginia are also marked under heart disease, indicating a broader regional trend.
This reflects longstanding national data showing cardiovascular disease remains a major public health challenge across much of the country.
Clear National Pattern Emerges
The overall distribution reveals a strong pattern:
Heart disease is the leading cause in most states across the South, Midwest and Southwest.
Cancer leads primarily in parts of the Northwest, Upper Midwest and Northern New England.
While the map simplifies complex health data into a single leading cause per state, the geographic divide is visually striking.
What This Means for Readers
Although this data represents statewide averages rather than individual risk, it underscores the continued impact of cardiovascular disease nationwide and the regional strength of cancer-related mortality in certain northern states.
For North Carolina and much of the Southeast, heart health remains a critical public health focus.
If you have thoughts about the regional trends shown on this map or want to share how health issues are impacting your community, join the conversation at CabarrusWeekly.com.
