Americans died at a higher rate in 2015 than they have in the last ten years. That news comes as a surprise to experts who are used to seeing a decline in the number of deaths. According to CNN, in 2015 the age-adjusted death rate was 729.5 deaths per 100,000 people, compared with 723.2 in 2014. That might not sound like much, but an increase in the overall rate is incredibly rare. The data is based on preliminary research gathered by the National Center for Health Statistics from last year's death records. It may be too early to tell what's driving the current trend. Death rates have improved over the years due to advances in modern medicine, public safety improvements such as seat belt laws and a decline in the number of people who take up smoking. Better disease management has also helped. Last year's uptick in deaths seems to be concentrated in a handful of diseases such as Alzheimer's, chronic lower respiratory disease, Parkinson's, stroke, septicemia and hypertension. Deaths from preventable causes, such as firearm deaths and homicides, seem to be up. There were also more suicides, drug overdoses, falls and accidents.
