When we say someone dies of “natural causes,” it means their death wasn’t due to an accident or any external force. Typically, this refers to dying of old age when vital organs gradually stop functioning. In contrast, “unnatural causes” include accidents, suicides, and homicides.
Most people pass away from natural causes, with coronary artery disease (CAD) leading the list. CAD happens when the arteries supplying blood to the heart become hardened and narrowed, often due to plaque and cholesterol buildup, accounting for about 16% of all deaths globally.
Dying from natural causes is quite common because the term broadly covers any death not caused by an external factor. While “dying of natural causes” isn’t a medical term, it generally refers to a situation where nothing sudden or forceful occurred. It can also be used when someone dies from old age, experiencing a decline in strength, energy, or appetite, much like a worn-out car gradually stopping.
Strokes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are the second and third leading natural causes of death. Strokes occur due to a loss of blood flow to the brain, accounting for 11% of deaths, while COPD, which includes diseases like chronic bronchitis and emphysema, makes breathing difficult and comprises about 6% of deaths.
The cause of death refers to what directly leads to a person’s passing, such as CAD, a stroke, or COPD, whereas the manner of death describes how they died. Death certificates indicate the immediate cause of death and might list other health conditions contributing to it. Coroners determine this in the absence of an obvious cause or without performing an autopsy. An autopsy can provide additional information when the cause and manner of death aren’t clear.
Understanding what it means to die of natural causes isn’t always straightforward. While it usually implies no specific health condition or accident was involved, it’s more commonly listed for older adults whose organs have gradually deteriorated over time.
