Be careful blowing out the candles. Scientists have found we are more likely to die on our birthday than any other day. Researchers who studied more than two million people over 40 years found a rise in deaths from heart attacks, strokes, falls and suicides. William Shakespeare died on his birthday on April 23 1616. The actress Ingrid Bergman also died on her birthday, in August 1982. On average, people over the age of 60 were 14 per cent more likely to die on their birthdays. Heart attacks rose 18.6 per cent on birthdays and were higher for men and women while strokes were up 21.5 per cent – mostly in women. The risk of birthday death rose as people got older. Studies show there was a 34.9 per cent rise in suicides, 28.5 per cent rise in accidental deaths not related to cars, and a 44 per cent rise in deaths from falls on birthdays. More suicides happen on birthdays, though only in men.
