YOU ARE MORE LIKELY TO DIE ON YOUR BIRTHDAY

Hey! Guess what! You are statistically more likely to die on your birthday! Ha ha! This gloomy discovery has been validated by various studies, such as a 2012 Swiss study which identified a 13.8 per cent rise in the number of people aged 60 and older who pass away on their actual birthdays, compared to other days. Similarly, a 2015 study in the US found that, on average, the risk of dying on your birthday is 6.7 per cent higher. Why does this peculiar phenomenon occur? There are a few theories:
– Firstly, birthdays often lead to over-the-top celebrations with excessive consumption of alcohol. This can increase risky behavior and poor decision-making, which can result in more accidents and drunk driving incidents.
– For some individuals grappling with terminal illnesses, the birthday serves as a significant milestone to aim for. One theory is that people are able to muster the strength to make it to one more candle on the cake, before letting go.
– Birthdays can also trigger introspection and sometimes lead to ‘birthday blues,’ characterized by sadness or depression. These feelings often stem from unmet expectations, reflections on ageing, loneliness and stress. These emotions can elevate the risk of suicide, as was found by a 2016 Japanese study that showed the likelihood of people committing suicide on their birthdays was 50 per cent higher than on other days.
* Sorry, folks, I keep asking them not to give me these stories on a Monday morning.
* (to your co-host) I still don’t understand why I’m more likely to die on YOUR birthday.
* Well, knowing this is really going to spoil my birthday party, isn’t it.
* Maybe on your birthday avoid those risky celebration ideas like skydiving and bungee jumping. And Chuck E. Cheese parties.
* You know what I want for my birthday? An ambulance and some EMTs on standby.