In the last ten years, the leading cause of death in Texas hasn't really changed. In the top ten, however, a new infectious disease did enter the leading causes of death- but it shouldn't come as a surprise.

Not too long ago, we learned that Polk County in Texas had some of the highest cancer rates in the country; and while cancer does make the top ten, it's not the leading cause of death in the Lone Star state.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the leading cause of death among Texans. This is a stat that hasn't change in the almost ten years.

Since 2014, heart disease ranked at number one for the leading cause of death in Texas. This is super bad news for me, especially, because heart disease runs in my family.

According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, heart disease and stroke are part of a group of cardiovascular diseases. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women.

These diseases affect your heart and blood vessels. Stroke is a condition in which the brain can’t get enough blood flow. This happens because one or more blood vessels leading to the brain are blocked or have burst.

Other forms of cardiovascular disease include heart attack and coronary heart disease (atherosclerosis).

Also on the top leading causes of death in Texas are:

• COVID-19
• Cancer
• Accidents
• Stroke
• Alzheimer’s Disease
• Chronic Lower Respiratory Diseases
• Diabetes
• Chronic Liver Disease/Cirrhosis
• Kidney Disease

You can find out more here. But the fact that this hasn't changed in so long means we as Texans need to start taking better care of our hearts!