There was an interesting article published in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer on Thursday noting that the risk for a stroke and heart attack is nearly 27% higher on birthdays. The study was conducted in Canada with 50,000 patients, with an average age about 70, who were treated for heart failure at hospitals in Ontario in a two-year period. Researchers think that emotional stress and anxiety may have something to do with the increased risk. They also think that overindulgence–too much drinking and smoking may also be a trigger.

Take away message: we should try to relax about our birthdays. Rather than look at them as a sign of us getting older, we should celebrate the fact that we have lived another year. But we don’t want to go overboard with the festivities.

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