Likelihood of death rises with 'birthday blues': study

For those over 60 years old, birthdays could be a stressful event that raises the likelihood of death from heart attacks, strokes, falls, suicides and even cancer, the Daily Mail reported on Sunday.

According to a study conducted by researchers from Switzerland, those over age 60 are 14 per cent more likely to die on their birthdays.

On the special day, scientists found heart attacks rose more than eighteen per cent while the stoke levels increased by 21.5 per cent.

"One interesting finding is that more suicides happen on birthdays, though only in men," said Dr Lewis Halsey, a senior lecturer in environmental physiology at the University of Roehampton.

There was a 34.9 per cent rise in suicides, 28.5 per cent rise in accidental deaths and a 44 per cent rise in deaths from falls on birthdays.

The study was published in the journal Annals of Epidemiology.