Alcohol Is Responsible For 5% Of All Deaths Globally, Study Finds

Despite increasing evidence that alcohol is not very good for us even in relatively low doses, a complementary body of work shows that we seem to be drinking more and more. And this week, an analysis from the World Health Organization (WHO) arrives at a startling statistic: Globally, alcohol is responsible for some 3 million deaths worldwide, which is over 5% of all deaths on the planet. A disproportionate amount—three-quarters—of the deaths caused by alcohol consumption are male.

 How to evade the leading cause of death in the United States

Americans are afraid of a lot of things: public speaking, heights, snakes, clowns and flying, just to name a few. Only some of these things can kill you, and none of them are likely to. When it comes to flying, you've probably heard this before: You're more likely to die from a lightning strike than in a plane crash. It's true. You're also more likely to die from being attacked by a dog, stung by a bee or choking on your food. But chances are you haven't thought too much about the leading cause of death for people in the United States ages 1 to 44: unintentional injury.

 The Cat Who Could Predict Death

Over several years, Oscar the cat had curled up next to 50 patients. Every one of them died shortly thereafter. How could doctors reproduce this ability?

 The Positive Death Movement Comes to Life

t was the party of a lifetime, and Shatzi Weisberger wouldn’t have missed it for the world. After all, it was her funeral. Or, as she pronounced it, her FUN-eral. “Come on in,” she said. “There’s lots of food. And a coffin that people are decorating.” And so it was that a hundred or so people gathered in the common room of an Upper West Side apartment building recently to eat, sing, mingle and hear Ms. Weisberger’s thoughts about death and dying.

 There’s a surprisingly rich debate about how to define death

What is death, really? Turns out there’s no true consensus among doctors, bioethicists, and philosophers. The way death is determined can even change as you cross state lines. Is it when our brains completely shut down? Is it when parts of our brains stop working? Is it when our hearts or lungs stop working? Is it when we lose the ability to think?

 Why Do We Give Our Pets Death With Dignity but Not Ourselves?

My years as an emergency veterinarian have shown me the relief that assisted death can bring. Why are our pets the main recipients?

 Yes, you really can work yourself to death

Stress and sleeplessness are surprisingly lethal.

 You really can be scared to death—here’s how

There are a million ways to die: Yeast infections run amok, working too much, an errant splinter, this season’s influenza, or even voracious mushrooms—we’ve all got to shuffle off this mortal coil somehow.

AI-powered brain emulation is changing our definition of death

Scientists are replacing traditional definitions based on brain death with new concepts based on cryogenics and AI.

Burial is becoming the most boring thing to do with your dead body

Death is more personal(ized) than ever.

Death Is Having a Moment

Fueled by social networking, the growing “death movement” is a reaction against the sanitization of death that has persisted in American culture since the 1800s.

Here Are the Top Causes of Death Worldwide

Worldwide, people are living longer. But while overall deaths from infectious diseases and preterm birth are decreasing, deaths from heart disease, conflict and terrorism are on the rise, according to a new report.

How Death Strikes Around the U.S.

Substance abuse, suicides and diabetes drive increase in premature deaths in nearly half the states, study finds.

How technology has changed the definition of death

In the 19th century, the moment one stopped breathing was the final indication of death, and a mirror held to the mouth, unfogged, was the indication that the soul had exited the body. Currently the measurement of death is a much more complicated one that involves a more industrialized and less religious view of the body: When mechanical and electrical activity ceases (the brain stops signaling, the heart stops beating, and breath stops), one is pronounced dead. But as we peer into the body with more powerful tools, these markers of death might not really indicate a final end.

The leading causes of death in the world - can they be cured?

Following a survey carried out by the World Health Organisation (WHO), ProClinical has compiled a list of the top leading causes of death in the world. While some diseases are well known for causing high death rates worldwide, there are a few that may come as a surprise. It’s not all doom and gloom though, as the pharmaceutical industry is always striving to develop better treatments and cures for these deadly diseases.

What Does "Dead" Mean?

Indeed it can be challenging to know if a person is brain dead. While guidelines exist for determining brain death in adults and children, debate continues about how to declare someone brain dead.