State Report Tracks County’s Death Rate
Shasta County’s death rate from preventable diseases, such as smoking-related cancers, is higher than any other Northern California county, a state report shows.
Health officials say tobacco use and diet are to blame for many of the county’s preventable diseases. About 19.2% of Shasta County residents smoke, compared to the statewide average of about 17%.
According to the California Department of Health Services report, lung cancer kills a third more Shasta County residents than in the rest of the state. Figures also show that Shasta residents are more likely to die from windpipe, mouth and bladder cancer -- diseases linked to cigarettes and chewing tobacco.
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