Natural Causes??

[sq764]

At 44 years old and relatively healthy, what do they consider 'natural causes'??

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1894327

[witchdoctor]

Natural causes probably means heart attack which presents with sudden death bout 20% of the time. Another potential cause of sudden death might be a massive pulmonary embolism. These can occur if one has to stay in bed for 2-3 days without walking or if one rides in a car or plane for 2-3 hours without stretching his legs.

[sq764]

Hmm.. So where is the line drawn as to what is considered a natural cause and what is not.. I never knew a heart attack was considered a natural cause.

[Buddha]

I think generally natural causes are just about anything that isnt murder, massive trauma or suicide. At least that appears to be what they use the term natural causes.

[sq764]

I would imagine a heart attack to be considered massive trauma..

But I guess that may fall under heart failure.

[Steve 'StatMan']

I sense massive trauma caused by something or someone other than the desceased would be 'accident' or 'foul play'. Anything internal that goes wrong is probably 'natural causes', although at 44 is unusual but not 'unnatural'.

I had a race track friend die from a heart-attack at 44 last year, he was only 1 month older than me. Chuck was the toughest guy I knew, but also the most self-abusive and self-destructive.

[Valuist]

Steve-

Did this Chuck hang out at AP Trackside? I used to know a guy named Chuck who used to go there. Haven't seen him in a while. He'd probably be right around 44-45 years old.

[Steve 'StatMan']

No, Chuck made rare apperances at AP for the Live racing, but lived in Melrose Park. Normally went to HAW or SPT (he loved hanging out in Cicero) and once in a while went to Maywood near his home for simulcasting.

[PaceAdvantage]

Dying from heart failure is certainly a natural cause of death.

Buddah is on the mark....

[JustRalph]

From Websters Online:


Natural causes is a biological term which describes a state of death which occurs without apparent reason, such as by disease or injury. Death by natural causes occurs almost always in old age.


I have seen a massive Heart Attack kill a 28 year old. I used to work in a Hospital E.R. ( 2yrs) You would be surprised sometimes.

[Tee]

Some medical conditions can go undiagnosed for quite some time. What appears to be a healthy individual is in effect a ticking time bomb. Pete Maravich is a perfect example

"Natural Causes" is preliminary, autopsy, toxicology, tissue sample analysis etc will give a more direct cause of death.

[Valuist]

Look at Darryl Kyle. On a Wednesday he's pitching 7 innings in the heat and getting a win. By Saturday morning he was dead.

[sq764]

I think this is the most depressing thread ever