American Board of Surgery Qualifying Exam (ABS QE) Practice Test

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Enhance your preparation for the American Board of Surgery Qualifying Exam with our interactive tools. Engage in flashcards and multiple choice questions, each paired with detailed hints and explanations. Prepare with confidence!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

What is the second most common cause of death in the United States?

Heart disease
Stroke
Accidents
Cancer

The correct answer is: Cancer

The second most common cause of death in the United States is cancer. This statistic is widely recognized in public health and epidemiological studies, highlighting cancer's significant impact on mortality rates across various demographics and populations. Heart disease holds the position of the leading cause of death, followed closely by cancer, which encompasses a variety of malignancies, including lung, breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers. The widespread occurrence of cancer is driven by various risk factors, including lifestyle choices, genetic predisposition, and environmental exposures, making it prevalent enough to be classified as the second major cause of mortality. While stroke and accidents are significant causes of death, they do not surpass cancer in terms of mortality rates. Stroke generally follows cancer and heart disease in the ranking, while accidents rank lower as a cause of death overall. Understanding these statistics is crucial for public health initiatives aimed at disease prevention and early intervention strategies.