The researchers analysed data on the deaths of some 2.4 million people over 40 years to find that we are 13.8 percent more likely to die on our birthday, UK newspaper The Independent reported.
The authors of the study, led by
Dr. Vladeta Ajdacic-Gross from the University of Zurich, found that
many deaths on birthdays were caused by strokes, cancer, falls, heart
attacks and suicides, leading to the conclusion that the stress of
birthdays plays a significant part in many deaths.
The risk of dying on a birthday
was found to increase to an 18-percent likelihood for the over-60s. The
chance of dying from a cardio-vascular condition such as heart attack
increased to 18.6 percent, with an increase of 21.5 percent for death
from a stroke.
The risk of suicide on a birthday was significant only for men, whose chances of dying this way increased by 34.9 percent.
“The authors suggest that this
increase could be related to more alcohol being drunk on birthdays. But
perhaps men are more likely to make a statement about their unhappiness
when they think people will be taking more notice of them,” Dr. Lewis
Halsey from the University of Roehampton told the newspaper.
He also suggested that women
might not opt for suicide on their birthdays out of a sense that it
would be unfair to put those celebrating with them through such an
ordeal.
The number of fatal falls also
increased by 44 percent on birthdays, with significant increases in
instances from about four days prior to the event.
One theory suggests that sick
elderly people try to hold on to reach one last milestone before giving
up, but the researchers’ evidence suggested that it was in fact the
stress of the event itself that caused the deaths. In particular, the
researchers found that older people suffer from more acute stress around
their birthdays.
I thought this was quite interesting.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday...and thanks for presentation of facts.Here is to a stress free birthday.
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