Buzz
William Shakespeare did it. Ingrid Bergman, the actress from Casablanca, did it too. Betty Friedan, the author of The Feminine Mystique, also did it. All of these influential figures passed away on their birthdays. Statistical evidence suggests there might be a higher likelihood of death occurring on one’s birthday compared to any other day, a phenomenon referred to as the 'birthday effect.'
In August 2012, a study published in the Annals of Epidemiology examined various causes of death and their correlation to the date of birth. Initially, the data was collected to investigate the theory of death postponement, which suggests that some individuals might postpone death just to celebrate another birthday.
However, the researchers discovered the opposite. By analyzing the mortality data of nearly 2.4 million Swiss individuals aged 1 and up from 1969 to 2008, they found that the likelihood of dying on one’s birthday increased by 13.8 percent. Among people aged 60 and older, the increase was even greater, at 18 percent.
A clear conclusion that can be drawn is that the deceased may have died by suicide, which is known to be more common during holidays, birthdays, and other milestones. While this was part of the explanation, the main factors were long-term cardiovascular issues such as heart attacks, cancer, and even accidents like falls. In fact, men were 44 percent more likely to die from a fall on their birthday.
The paper concluded, 'We found that birthdays result in death more often than might be expected.'
So what might be the cause? That’s a more difficult question. One theory is that people tend to engage in more physical activity on their birthdays, whether from dancing, sexual activity, or general partying. This added stress on the cardiovascular system could trigger underlying health problems and lead to a heart-related event.
Another common birthday element, drinking, might contribute to a rise in falls or other accidents. Additionally, human error could play a role. It’s possible that for some people affected by the 'birthday effect,' their death dates were mistakenly recorded as their birth dates. If this happened even a small percentage of the time, it could explain the discrepancies.
But what about the original goal of the Swiss study, which was to explore whether death could be delayed by willpower? There’s historical precedent for this. In 1978, a new Australian tax law abolished inheritance taxes for individuals passing away after July 1, 1979 [PDF]. The death statistics for the final taxable week of June and the tax-free week of July were striking. Approximately 50 deaths that would have occurred in June were recorded in July, as if estate holders held on long enough to spare their heirs from a tax rate of up to 27.9 percent.
In 2000, The New York Times reported that the number of deaths in New York City was 50.8 percent higher in the first week of 2000 compared to the same week in 1999. One possible explanation is that people nearing the end of their lives in late 1999 found the strength to hold on just long enough to see the new millennium.
The conclusions you draw from all this are yours to make. While it’s true that external factors might snuff out your candles on your birthday, you might still have the power to keep them burning through your own will. Just perhaps steer clear of heights and the dance floor.
