You are 14 per cent more likely to die on your birthday than any other day in the year, a new study has found.

The cause of deaths include heart disease and stroke mainly in women and suicides and accidents — most specifically falls — in men, according to a study published this month in the Annals of Epidemiology journal.

The study, conducted by a team of Swiss researchers, examined two million deaths from 1969 to 2008, looking at computerized records of Swiss mortality statistics.

The idea behind the study was to try to examine two long-standing theories about birthdays and deaths, said Vladeta Ajdacic-Gross, a sociologist and senior researcher at the University of Zurich and a co-author of the study.

Some researchers have argued that death is often postponed until after one’s birthday; others have suggested that it is more likely that people die on their birthday.

The study’s data proves that the “anniversary reaction hypothesis” — otherwise known as the “birthday blues” — winning out most of the time, Ajdacic-Gross said. Stress was seen as acting as a major contributing factor in the deaths.

There is an 18.6 per cent increase in the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease and a 10.8 per cent rise in deaths among cancer patients on their birthdays, the study found.

Results from the study also show that the risk of dying on your birthday increases with age, rising to 18 per cent for those over 60.

And when it comes to violent deaths it seems men are more at risk for dying on their birthday from suicides and falls, the study said.

In heart attack and stroke deaths, stress seems to play a major role, Ajdacic-Gross explained, pointing to a study done at Ontario emergency department admissions from 2002 to 2003.

That study found that vascular events occurred more frequently on birthdays than on other days of the year, particularly in those people with a history of hypertension.

As for suicides and fatal accidents on birthdays, Ajdacic-Gross believes that alcohol plays a significant role.

The results of the study also may help with prevention, Ajdacic-Gross said.

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In the case of violent deaths, “one shouldn’t drink alcohol if you have a crisis of any kind … speak with someone rather than speaking with a bottle,” he said.

And those with underlying cardiovascular issues who are under stress “should take care and spend birthdays relaxing or in the company of loved ones without great parties and complex appointments,” he said.