Who drops dead at 43 years of age?

[RandySF]

One of two kids of people. Either Andrew Breitbart had a defect from birth or he was seriously abusing his body. My cousin dies at his age after many years of drug abuse. He had been clean for some time, but the damage was already done.

[got root]

1. my father

heart attack, his forth.

[Confusious]

2. Shit you got worse genes then me

I thought I was bad. Grandfather on moms side died at 74, my dad almost had a heart attack at 56.

42 and started meds for cholesterol at 39. I don't even eat red meat much. don't hit the fast food joints more then once a quarter.

[RockaFowler]

3. My cousin died at the age of 31

She had a heart attack due to drug use

[bayareamike]

4. People pass for all kinds of reasons.

Until we find out the exact cause of death, we are just speculating.

My family has a long history of heart problems. One of my aunts passed at 45 from a massive heart attack. That was two years after one of my uncles passed from a heart attack at age 39.

[Champion Jack]

5. I heard he had syphilis

[babylonsister]

7. Did he die from that? Gotta link?

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

9. Here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=370540

[babylonsister]

22. I stand corrected.

[madinmaryland]

14. I don't think having your dick fall off will cause a heart attack.

[madokie]

30. If mine fell off I'd die on the spot

self inflicted if it doesn't happen automatically

[madinmaryland]

36. Oh shit. I thought you were a woman.

[babylonsister]

37. Hahaha! That's even funnier!

No reflection on madokie!

[madinmaryland]

42. Whew! I just checked your profile and you are a woman.

I figured with "sister" in your name, you were probably female. Of course folks here think I am a female because of my screen name, "maidinmaryland", but I am not.

[babylonsister]

54. Wow.

You had me fooled. I love you whatever your sex! And yes, I'm 'moi'.

[madokie]

104. You're not?

just kid'n, holding hands above my head as to ward off a thumping.

[madokie]

99. Oh shit is right

I thought I was a guy

[pinboy3niner]

115. Brother, you gotta stop playin' "dress up" on weekends

You're confusing people.

[JI7]

15. i heard he got it from having sex with a Goat

[Odin2005]

39. He never denied it!

[bahrbearian]

51. He better not been messing with my Goats, I've got a clean herd.

[warrior1]

6. ex-girlfriend

dead a 43.

[HopeHoops]

8. My brother. He died at 13. - Reye's syndrome.

I wasn't happy about that.

[babylonsister]

55. So sorry; don't know what that is, but I'm sorry you lost your bro. :( nt

[HopeHoops]

103. It's a sudden swelling of the brain - aspirin is thought to be the catalyst.

It only hits children and he was about at the top of the age range. They think it is a genetic predisposition and aspirin triggers it, but there's been some recent debate on that. To be on the safe side, NEVER give children aspirin. Ever.

[riverwalker]

10. who wanders around the neighborhood after midnight

in the middle of the week? Weird, and he had small kids at home. I thought he was out walking with his father-in-law, but now it sounds like Brietbart was out walking alone, found collapsed on the sidewalk, and the neighbors ran to get his father-in-law. Toxicology report will be interesting.

[Luminous Animal]

21. I do. In fact, I took a stroll around midnight last night. Its a peaceful and quiet time.

I'll probably do the same tonight. The weather is brisk and clear. Fortunately, I did not collapse and die and I probably won't tonight.

[lonestarnot]

76. What's with all the Nader?

[Luminous Animal]

90. Trying to stay topical. Though Nader is soooo yesterday. I should have changed it to

BREITBART BREITBART BREITBART BREITBART... for today.

[Fawke Em]

68. I do that BECAUSE I have small children AND I'm female.

When the night is nice, I sometimes take one or two or three dogs out with me for a stroll at midnight after my 4 year old takes an hour to go to bed or after my 12 year old GETS to go to bed after hours of honor homework. Really, I wasn't worried about his walk.

[nadinbrzezinski]

77. You'd be surprised how many times I come home

from covering occupy in downtown, taking public transportation, late at night.

[Monk06]

86. He was leaving a meeting in a Restaurent within walking distance of his home. Nothing strange there.

[Fawke Em]

113. Actually, people with kids go out after midnight to walk often.

The kids are asleep, the spouse is winding down in front of the tube, the neighborhood is quiet and the dogs need to go one last time before bed.

Of course, I would guess it would depend on one's neighborhood, but, after midnight in mine, all you see is some critters and the occasional fast food worker driving home.

[Enrique]

11. enemies of Obama!

[scarletwoman]

12. My beloved partner & father of my youngest son died of a heart attack at age 42.

He lived a very clean life, was loving and generous and helpful to everyone. He was not overweight, he never did drugs, he seldom drank alcohol except on special occasions like holidays or parties, and then not to excess. He had no obvious health problems. However, both his father and mother had histories of heart problems, it seems he probably inherited the worst from both parents.

He simply dropped dead one evening. It happens.

[BlueToTheBone]

31. I'm sorry for your loss.

[scarletwoman]

45. That's very kind of you.

It was a long time ago, in 1988. Our son is now 27, happy and thriving, and his laugh sounds exactly like his dad's. It's a tremendous shock to lose a loved one so suddenly, yet there's really no choice except to carry on with life.

[Possumpoint]

49. Be Sure

He understands his genetic history and keeps a watch on his cholesterol and heart. Though I was much older when they found my blockage I was oblivious to it.

[scarletwoman]

60. Yes and yes, he is well aware and keeps a good watch.

He was only 3 when his father died, but as soon as he was old enough to understand the medical history on that side of his family I made sure we discussed it in depth. And we continue to discuss it.

[BlueToTheBone]

117. I'm inspired

by your bravery.

Namaste

[babylonsister]

56. Awww... So sorry, scarletwoman. I know it happens, and have

heard of this. My condolences.

[scarletwoman]

61. As I said above, it was 24 years ago - this month, in fact.

He died on March 19, 1988.

It was a shock, and a hard thing to go through. On the other hand, the lessons I learned about grief and loss were extemely valuable and precious, and ultimately enriched my life.

[babylonsister]

64. I want you to know...

as much as we disagree, I love you. You are such a fine person. We haven't been in touch in a long time, but I wanted you to know that.

[scarletwoman]

69. Dear lady, you honor me! I will always hold you in the highest esteem and respect, you have

a true and generous heart.

We may not always agree, but I've never seen that as anything more than that we are looking at something from different angles.

I have always remembered the time a few years back when you wanted to send me a birthday card. You are such a sweet and giving person and you will always be in my heart. I love you back, babyonsister, never doubt it.

[babylonsister]

82. Awww, I'm so glad you remember that, because

I don't. I hope I haven't lost that 'edge'. , a divorce after 28 yrs and a move have both moved me, but I am so glad I impacted you, because you I love. And I'm getting/moving on, but thanks for the memories. xoxox

[scarletwoman]

91. A divorce after 28 years! Oh, I'm sure that must be very wrenching!

I can only offer my best wishes for your new life. One of most profound teachings I was ever given was this: all change is a mixture of grief and relief. Whichever element predominates, we need to also acknowledge the other element, and strive to learn from both.

I have no doubt that your move will find you landing on your feet. You have all the strength you need to get through this transition.

[malaise]

58. Damn that's sad

People do collapse and die - most have heart problems in their family.

Hubby had his heart attack at the identical age as his father - almost to the day. They were both lucky

[scarletwoman]

62. I am so glad to hear they were both lucky!

The best thing we can do is to remember to cherish those who are close to us and always remember to show them our love. Because we never know if one morning when we kiss them good-bye as they leave for the day, might turn out to be the last time we see them alive.

It's a hard thing to have that happen - how much harder and painful if one had witheld one's affection in anger or spite on that morning!

[malaise]

93. You are so right

[nadinbrzezinski]

75. I am sorry for your loss

and I am sure you have done right and kept his son aware of the genetic load.



It happens and in our modern age it irks me that people assume it does not happen. People forget that the 40s were older folks and the 60s were elders, and the 80s were rare.

And I do hope they do find what killed Mr. Breitbart and that his kids are made aware of it.

[scarletwoman]

84. Thank you for your kind words. I didn't mean to call attention to myself, only to point out that

people in their 40s DO die of heart attacks.

Myself, being in my 60s now, can only wish in vain to be given any sort of respect as an "elder" - but at least I get a "senior citizen" discount at the grocery store!

Best wishes, Nadin.

[leftyohiolib]

13. he was crushed under a mountain of guilt

[Yavapai]

19. I heard that he choked on an acorn???

[flamingdem]

38. This would almost be worthy of a DUzy

but for sure it will be judged as too mean, heh.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

16. I know someone who died of a heart attack at 28

and someone else who nearly died of a stroke at 37.

It happens.

[HockeyMom]

48. So do I

Newlywed who died of a heart attack at the age of 28 on his honeymoon. Ok, maybe we shouldn't go there.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

128. Yikes. I had a friend's husband die on the honeymoon in Jamaica. On the beach playing volleyball.

IIRC, he was 26. The poor girl took it REALLY hard for years.

[malaise]

98. One of my colleague's son

had a massive stroke last year - he was 35. He is slowly recovering and is moving around with a walker. He is still learning to speak again. He has suffered from migraine since childhood.

[steve2470]

17. add another 9 years and you get Jim Fixx of The Complete Book of Running fame

He died at age 52 of a fulminant heart attack, after his daily run on Vermont Route 15 in Hardwick.

Needless to say, HIS death shocked me.

[customerserviceguy]

80. And Jim's father died at age 43 from a heart attack

When it's your time, it's your time.

[eridani]

94. Why? He had a family history of serious heart disease

Don't get why people keep confusing cardiovascular fitness with cardiovascular health. The first generally helps the second--after all, he outlived his father by 9 years, so it at least helped a bit.

For early dealth from cardiovascular problems, genetics is the major factor. Clean living helps, but can't counteract bad genes.

[steve2470]

97. At the time of his death, I was not aware of all of his risk factors

Upon reflection, he was fortunate to outlive his father by nine years. If I had known in 1984 of his risk factors, I would not have been shocked at all. Since then, several athletes have died "early", due to hidden risk factors. As customerserviceguy said, when it's your time, it's your time.

[dmallind]

108. Might be because prissy health fascists allow no possibility the other way.

Anybody even slightly overweight or "wild" who dies even at a normal longevity or beyond is always greeted with smug clucks about their diet or "health choices" - in a "concerned" "Oh it's so sad he wasn't as healthy and wise as me" manner of course. Nobody ever allows the slightest shred of a possibility that nasty horrible fat people can also have bad genes that not all the jogging in the world could have helped. I'm getting that shit myself and what's killing me has absolutely no possible connection to weight or "lifestyle". No - it's only fit vegans with nary a drop of booze who get to have bad genes or just bad luck cause their fatal illnesses.

[kwassa]

119. Prissy health fascists?

I'm glad that this is not an issue for you.

Seems to have touched a nerve.

What is your health issue, if you are willing to share?

I've had people die all around me for the past ten years or so, mostly from completely non-preventable conditions unrelated to lifestyles. I had a heart attack, a mild one, fortunately, and I am fit and eat healthy and have no family history, either. There is no explanation. I still had a heart attack. I fine-tuned my diet, and am now mostly your much detested vegan, but I know that it is mostly Lipitor that keeps my total cholesterol at 88.

On the other hand, my father-in-law has been a self-inflicted near-invalid with Type 2 diabetes. He has been on dialysis for more than a decade, doesn't change his lifestyle one bit. He is only 9 years older than me, yet was essentially a cripple at the age I am now. My grandfather spent 15 years in bed due to emphysema related to a lifetime of smoking. He was a very unhappy man.

[dmallind]

122. Yes prissy health fascists. You deny they exist? How many links you want?

You know the type if you've been around DU more than a day. Smug misinformed idiots always "touch a nerve" if by that mean make me call them the same and similar. Trust me they don't affect my life one bit apart from that.

I can tell you anecdotes too about 80 yr old obese people who drank heavily all their lives. Even better I can cite real data that shows obesity etc have a tiny impact on longevity. When was the last time you saw an article about "lifestyle" risks that wasn't couched in relative terms? I don't care if doing X gives me a 300% greater chance of having Y if the chance of Y is .000002%.

My lungs are killing me - IPF. Never smoked or worked in a noxious environment a day in my life. Never even lived in a hugely congested city with traffic pollution. And it doesn't matter shit what the "I" stands for - the vast majority of the people who hear of it still ask about my weight or drinking being the "real" cause. Of lung scarring?

[kwassa]

123. I am sorry to hear about your IPF.

It does not sound remotely like a lifestyle disease.

Obesity does have it's negative health impacts, including the type 2 diabetes I cited before. Both my inlaws are 100 lbs. overweight, at least. Anecdotal exceptions do not make any rules. I knew of a man in his 90s who smoked three packs of cigarettes a day, and had worked as a coal miner early in life. He is an exception. This does nothing about the overall effects of smoking on most, including my grandfather.

[dmallind]

126. Your anecdotes don't make rules either

I said I could tell anecdotes TOO for a reason. Obesity seems to reduce lifespan about 3 yrs. 77 to 80. But it's blamed every damn time somebody with love handles dies in their 40s.

[kwassa]

127. People die from all kinds of things.

Many of them pointed out in this thread. Heart disease is, however, still the #1 cause of death, and it is largely preventable, or reducible with lifestyle changes and medication. Obese people are living longer because of these breakthroughs in medication, with statins, betablockers, and blood pressure medication greatly reducing risk.

[onlyadream]

18. He looked like he was much older

My hubby is 43 and AB looked twenty years older than DH. He wasn't healthy and full of hate filled stress. His heart was probably as hard as a stone. Rush is next!

[greatauntoftriplets]

20. A cousin died of a stroke at age 39.

She was in the grocery store with her small son.

[me b zola]

23. I don't understand

Did Breitbart die?

on edit: i just saw the home page. I don't cheer the death of anyone, but Lordy i'm not going to mourn this one

[Poll_Blind]

25. Yep! The fucker's dead. nt

PB

[Poll_Blind]

24. I am not so sure this kind of talk is going to be productive except to say he...

...looked quite a bit older than 43 and behaved as though the engine of his soul had run out of things to fuel it...and so finally turned to raw rage to keep him going.

People die early, far too early, all the time. But aside from the "Nobody dies that young unless they have a birth defect or were absuing their body", I think I know what you meant to say and I mostly agree.

There was something, clearly something, inside Brietbart which was unwell.

PB

[HereSince1628]

26. The dichotomy you present can account for early deaths, but it's not always so simple.

The notion of abuse also suggests guilt/personal recklessness, which I don't think is the only alternative to a genetic time-bomb.

some examples...

Getting a pathogen doesn't require serious abuse of your body and there are many that can sure as shit put you among the gravel...

You can also get exposed to a variety of toxins by means which stretch the meaning of 'serious' and 'abuse.' You just need 'enough' and it might come accidentally.

Allergies (which can become frankly acute at any age) can kill. My mother almost died, and would have if she hadn't gotten an adrenaline jab, after eating a slice of toast for breakfast one day. She was in her 50's and had been eating bread all of her adult life...only to suddenly come up allergic to yeast.

And sometimes what turns out to be bad for a person was presented as something that was supposed to be good...some adverse drug reactions are lethal.

[knowbody0]

27. he looked much older

very red in the face. abusing something, unhealthy for sure.

[liberal_mama]

33. I agree, he looked 65!

He had a lot of wear and tear on him for 43. Something wasn't right about him.

[meow2u3]

28. Russian figure skater Sergei Grinkov dropped dead at age 28

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergei_Grinkov

He had an undiagnosed heart condition that caused his coronary arteries to end up the size of a pinhole.

[REP]

29. My husband's grandfather. Brain aneurysm.

One of his co-workers. Heart attack.

Neither were drug users/abusers.

Sometimes people just die.

[markpkessinger]

32. An acquaintance of mine died last year at 35 of a pulmonary embolism . . .

. . . of the sort one expects in a much older person who has, say, been sitting too long in an airplane or car seat, causing a blood clot to form. The only thing is, this acquaintance was 35 years old, very physically active, never overweight and overall very healthy.

I know another guy who dropped dead at the age of 21 from an aneurism. These kinds of deaths may be uncommon, but they are not unheard of, and it is simply making too broad a generalization to attribute them all to drug abuse or even an obvious defect.

[flamingdem]

40. Perhaps worsened by stress

and he was under a lot of that apparently

[uppityperson]

34. Dan Blocker, aka Hoss Cartwright did. As do many others for other reasons than the 2 you listed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Blocker


He died from a blood clot that traveled to his lungs after going home after recovering from a simple gall bladder operation. A nursing friend helped care for him after his surgery, said he was just like his character on Bonanza, sweet big bear of a nice guy.

It happens for more reasons than "defect from birth or seriously abusing body". Educate yourself.

[rustydog]

35. My mother from heart problems at 45 years old. she was not a druggie or alkie, ok.

Breitbart was a scumbag tool for the GOP who died suddenly. Don't suggest what may not be there. Let us wait for the Autopsy results.

[Odin2005]

41. He admited to having a cocaine habit when he was younger, IIRC.

[etherealtruth]

43. People

some good, some bad ... but folk do drop dead at 43

[tledford]

44. Andrew Breitbart. eom

[abelenkpe]

46. My hubby's mother

She died of a heart attack at 43. My hubby was 15 and his father was so grief stricken he blamed him and his bad grades for giving his mother a heart attack. It took years for him to get over that and heal the relationship he has with his father.

You never know when your time is up. Try to cherish every moment.

[pokerfan]

47. I don't believe he was 43

I'm betting he was one of those who stayed at '39' for ten years or more. Have we ever seen a birth certificate? To answer your question, I saw this earlier today:

What Are Your Chances of Dropping Dead in Your 40s?

[RebelOne]

50. I am lucky to be alive now.

In my 30s, 40s and early 50s, I abused my body with drugs. Mostly cocaine and uppers. I lived in Miami where the drugs were easily obtained. I moved up here to North Georgia in 1989 to get away from the drug culture. I am now 73 and hope to live at least another 10 years. And I am now a vegetarian, which I think has helped.

[RFKHumphreyObama]

52. My neighbor

A healthy, active, energetic man full of life who played sport and lived life to the fullest. He did at around this age -not sure if it was 43 or slightly older or younger but within that age category nonetheless. Just suddenly collapsed and died while playing squash. He left behind a wife and two daughters.

I was nine years old at the time and it deeply affected me. He used to drive me home from school when my parents couldn't give me a lift. The nicest, sweetest man you will ever know

[laundry_queen]

63. That sounds like my uncle

Nicest, sweetest man you'd ever meet. My aunt picked a good one. We ALL loved him. He also suddenly died in his backyard at age 43. They never did find the exact cause but said it was heart related (possible defect). He was very fit and active. He left behind my 2 small cousins. It was very, very sad.

[a la izquierda]

53. A good friend of mine...

died of a blood clot while taking off in a plane. Sitting next to a doctor.
When you go, you go.

My grandfather died of a heart attack at 48.

And my brother-in-law had a mini-stroke at 38. Luckily, he woke up and knew what was happening, or he'd have died in his sleep.

[ellenfl]

57. you don't have to do drugs . . . just eat prepared american (or chinese)-made food.

many of us are killing ourselves with the food we eat, the air we breathe and the water we drink. alternatively, he might have been just another big pharma experiment. THAT would be poetic justice for any regulation-hating conservative. just about every drug on the market has killed someone.

ellen fl

[CBHagman]

59. Quite a few people, actually.

I'm not going to give a litany of the tragic cases I'm personally acquainted with, but you'd be surprised how tenuous our hold on life can be.

And you cannot tell who's going to die suddenly just by his/her habits, medical history, and/or casual observation.

[LynneSin]

65. My father was 43 when he died but he was also a heavy smoker

and it was lung cancer that got him.

[spanone]

66. people die. shit happens.

[HipChick]

67. My grandfather smoked unfiltered cigs and 150% proof rum...

all the time...

He lived to be 78...lucky or strong genes?

[dsc]

70. my dad would have but for the fact that the hospital he was rushed to

was literally testing out what was in 1978 brand new technology angioplasty.

[cherokeeprogressive]

71. 43 year olds.

Exclusively.

[AnnieBW]

72. People with aneurysms?

They can strike at any time. A friend had a cousin that died at age 19, just like that. Another friend-of-a-friend died two years ago from an aneurysm walking out of Cafe Du Mond in New Orleans. Boom, he was dead.

[polly7]

74. Yes, all the time.

A friend of mine died of one at the age of 31 while out jogging. You just never know.

[nadinbrzezinski]

73. My uncle... from a heart attack

there are plenty of people who drop dead at 43.

In fact, sudden death is a slightly higher risk factor for men of that age group, 35=50 iirc.

[akbacchus_BC]

81. Nadin, that is so true. my grandfather on my mother's side died at 38 of a massive heart attack.

Age is not the defining factor!

[nadinbrzezinski]

83. Well due to familial history

we get tested regularly...



The miracle of modern chemistry!

[akbacchus_BC]

89. That is now, I was not even born when my grandfather on my Mom's side died!

Modern chemistry is unbelievable if the problem is caught in time.

some of us do not like to go to doctors unless it is necessary and the men, it is a lot worse to convince them to go to a doctor.

[lonestarnot]

78. When it's time to go, it's time to go, no matter what age.

[akbacchus_BC]

79. A lot of people, some as young as 6 months old.

Accept it for what it is and let the person RIP.

[backscatter712]

85. He packed 86 years of hatred into those 43 years... n/t

[TwilightGardener]

87. It doesn't take much--a plaque comes loose in an artery, a clot, a rupture in the brain

or aorta. Genes may make it more likely, but overall, it's just plain bad luck.

[Ruby the Liberal]

88. Years ago, a colleague died from a brain aneurysm (sp?) he was 28.

No signs, no symptoms.

It scared the daylights out of me at the time (and to this day, when I think about it).

Sometimes, it is just "your time".

I do hope they do an autopsy though. "Died of natural causes" at the ER after walking (at age 43) isn't an answer.

[Ter]

92. You forgot the third type

Those who are killed. It could be from being hit by a car, car crash, caught in gun fire, a horrible freak accident, etc.

[WCIL]

95. My sister at 35

Her mitral valve collapsed and she died while she was home alone with her baby. Her husband (a firefighter and EMT) had made a 10 minute trip to the store, and couldn't save her. The doctor who did her autopsy in Springfield said she had seen this happen to a few other otherwise healthy women under 40. It was out of the blue.

No one could believe that was the explanation and kept digging at us, her family, for "the truth". Did she kill herself? Was she on drugs? Was it cancer? It was ugly. This OP really hurts.

[Phentex]

101. My husband is extremely fit and healthy...

long distance runner, low BMI, healthy eater, zero cholesterol or blood pressure problems, no fatigue...really no health issues at all. A routine physical detected a heart murmur which led to the discovery of a mitral valve leaking. Fixed before it could lead to a collapse or damage to the heart. But the point is the same as yours: some things really are out of the blue and having nothing to do with lifestyle!!

[TheManInTheMac]

96. My brother-in-law. 41, Navy Vet, active duty firefighter. I don't like what you are implying.

[Are_grits_groceries]

100. My cousin's husband was 30 when he dropped dead

while jogging. They had 3 kids.

[Phentex]

102. Or cancer?...

My father passed at age 42 of leukemia. There are more than two kinds of people who die early.

[AngryAmish]

105. Knew a woman died in her sleep at age 35

She was five months pregnant at the time with twins.

What a funeral, that was brutal.

[Erose999]

106. Autoerotic asphyxiation. He died as he lived... an uptight jerkoff.

[LibertyLover]

107. His father-in-law, Orson Bean

mentioned that Breitbart had had some heart problems last year but the family thought it had been taken care of.

[frazzled]

109. Plenty of good (and seemingly healthy) people

Okay, three from my own experience. A brilliant friend of ours, who died with no previous warning in his sleep at age 40. Heart.

The husband of a colleague, who had a terrible sore throat one night (he was in his 30s). His wife took him to the emergency room and they sent him home. He died. I think it was a Jim Henson type of thing.

My cousin, age 30, during an asthma attack.

Every day we should remember to be thankful we are alive.

[Fuzz]

110. I'm 44, so not me!

[hifiguy]

111. A cousin of mine dropped dead at 48;

his father's family had a long history of heart issues.

[Spider Jerusalem]

112. My great-uncle at 39...

and my uncle at 48. Both of heart attacks. Lifestyle factors (stress, tension, drinking, smoking, diet) can add to existing genetic tendencies (my great-grandfather died at 56, also of a heart attack).

[ProfessorGAC]

114. I'll Go With Genetics

Back in the early 70's an all-world HS basketball player from a school in my team's conference, dropped dead in the shower after practice. He had Marfan's Syndrome (not sure if i spelled that right). It's characterized by a major thinning of the aortic wall as people grow to particularly tall degrees. (He was 17 and 6'10&quot .

The wall gets so thin it burst.

World class volleyballer Flo Hyman died that way too.
GAC

[flexnor]

116. I admit it, I listened to Hannity yesterday

and before you flame me, you have to understand what the arguements are, before you can articulate what the flaws are

but anyway, hannity was going on and on and on about how breitbart worked endlessly, 20 hour days here, there, everywhere work work work, and how great that was

and i'm thinking 'you moron, with a known heart condition, that's what killed him'

breitbart was nothing more nor less a peer of nixon era dirty tricksters, a guy who might have worked at the Enquirer had he been a little less entraprenurial and political, a guy at home in sleaze

but i think the sickest part of what hannity was going on about, was a supposedly 'pro-life' guy praising such blatent self destruction as a virtue, and i think is symbolic of what is wrong with our society today, and neither partt is totally innocent of it (although the republcians are worse)

and that is, the idea of wanting to work moderately hard, live a ballanced, happy life, with leisure as part of ones goals, and being content with being known by family, friends and your immediate community, without being a 'big shot' has somehow been redefined as being a 'slacker', a 'loser' worthy of being replaced by someone who will 'work harder' (that's a huge narrative in the H-1b visa tech worker issue). but wanting such a moderately simple life and finding contentment of it is the definition of a 1st world society - that you dont have to be 'at the top' to have a good life - that you can 'be somebody' even if you're not 'better' than everyone else

human life in this narrative, really has no value, it is to be fed into a machine, with hopes of getting a 'high grade' from the machine in the form of financial wealth (that is hoarded, but never really enjoyed, and cant be 'taken with you'), national 'recognition', or ostentatious posessions that side idle while one workaholizes.

i think this really sums up what has gone wrong in the last 20 years, if you dont understand where you want to go, you wont get there

[MNBrewer]

118. Oh!! I know this one! Andrew Breitbart?

[pinboy3niner]

120. Either "defective" or an "abuser"?

Whatever we may think of this person, it seems a real stretch to try to characterize his cause of death as negative.

I lost my dad at around Breitbart's age. My dad died of a brain aneurism when I was 15. The trauma of that sudden loss will always be with me.

I may have hated what Breitbart did in his life, but I have nothing but sympathy and empathy for his family in their loss.

[cynatnite]

121. My brother-in-law did at the age of 30...

He was not overweight and took very good care of himself. Heart disease runs in the family. A piece of plaque in his heart had broken off and caused his death.

It happens even to the best of people.

[MurrayDelph]

124. A very good friend of mine passed away at the age of 36

from a brain aneurism. Just walking down the street in New York City on her way to work.

Woke up once in the ambulance, and that was it.

She exercised, didn't drink to excess, didn't partake in recreational pharmaceuticals.

Her only "bad" habit was being very fast to pick up a check.

It happens.

[otohara]

125. When He Was Screaming @ OWS

With his veins popping out...I thought he's going to have a heart attack !
And he did

[TBF]

129. My mom's cousin - Brain Hemorrhage in early 40s

it happens. Your post is insensitive.

[WI_DEM]

130. more people than you would think.