Interestingly, reductions in death rates do not necessarily mean a lower death count and although the bulk of deaths in Australia occurs among the 65 -84 years, the number of deaths in the 85 years and over range is increasing rapidly.

Despite this fact, we no longer die from old age.

Nearly two thirds of Australians die from heart disease or cancer.

There were 133,700 deaths registered in Australia in 2006.

2,300 deaths registered in Australia identified as Indigenous Australians.This is now understood to be an under representation.

There were  approximately  8.7 deaths per 1,000 people   in the Northern Territory and approximately  5.5 deaths  per 1,000 people  in the Australian Capital Territory.

Cardiovascular disease was responsible for the deaths of  45,670 Australians  with  cancer  the underlying cause of death for 39,753 Australians . Lung cancer attributed to 7,348 of these deaths. A media release in 2008 estimated over 42,000 deaths from cancer with that figure increasing by 800 per year with death rates from cardiovascular disease declining.

People in the  55 - 69 year age group appear to have gained the most in terms of prevention of premature death.

www.abs.gov.au

Did you know that Australia is waging a war against cancer ?

We battle it, attack it with knives, poison it with chemotherapy and blast it with radiation. If we are fortunate we can beat it, if not we may end up

‘ succumbing after a long battle’.

Some people think that a positive outlook will influence survival.

And in times of war optimism is essential!

Optimism however, as outlined in a recent Australian study seems to be a little over rated.

Biology and the availability of effective treatments, it seems, are better at  determining our  fate .

Deaths due to dementia and alzheimer’s disease have risen 99% since 1997 and was  Australia’s 4th leading cause of death in 2006.

Over 2000 registered deaths were from suicide with 80% of those deaths are male. Transport accidents and suicide were the top causes of death among youth.

Medical technology has not only impacted on the way we live but also on the way we die.

Functional decline predicts where you will die and most people state that they prefer to die at home.

If your condition deteriorates rapidly late in your illness then you are more likely to die at home.

The majority of people die in institutions such as aged care facilities, hospitals and hospices and women are more likely to die of lingering conditions that afflict the old as well as being more likely to depart from a nursing home.

People who are impaired by their illness  for at least 12 months before death are also more likely to die in a nursing home.

Injury is by far the most common cause of death in the first half of life and 25% of male and 15% of female deaths in 2005 were of persons aged under 65.

There are many different types of deaths : for instance, euthanasia, homicide, abortion, suicide, homicide, neonatal and infant death, accidents, natural disasters, sudden death, terminal illness/death, capital punishment, acts of terrorism and deaths from medical misadventure.

And for good measure

Being left handed in a right handed world shortens life expectancy  (New England Journal of Medicine, 1991)