Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the US, accounting for 1 in every 4 deaths, and affecting significantly more men than women. Contents of this article: 1  Top 10 leading causes of death. 2  Top 10 leading causes of death in more detail. 3  Heart disease. 4  Cancer. 5  Chronic lower respiratory disease. 6  Accidents. 7  Stroke. 8  Alzheimer's disease. 9  Diabetes.