THERE are tens of thousands of deaths in the UK every month – including many from ‘natural causes’.
But what does dying of ‘natural causes’ – like the tragic passing of S Club 7 star Paul Cattermole – actually mean?
GettyWhat does dying of ‘natural causes’ mean?[/caption]
What does it mean to die from natural causes?
When a person’s death certificate says ‘natural causes’, it means that ‘external causes’ are being ruled out.
It means the person who died did not take their own life, and they were not killed by someone else or in an accident, like a car crash or a drug overdose.
Dr David R. Fowler told CNN: “It’s solely and exclusively due to natural causes, a natural disease process.”
Further investigation is required to find out the type of death if someone passed away due to ‘natural causes’.
What is a natural cause of death?
Dr Fowler said illnesses like “infection, cancer, heart disease, all of those things that are going to carry us off at some point along the way” are ‘natural causes’ of death.
MRSA, tuberculosis and liver disease are also ‘natural causes’ of death.
Dr Fowler added: “If I’m playing a sport and have heart attack… or shovel snow and have a heart attack because I stressed myself, that’s natural.”
However he said if those activities cause a death that might not have otherwise happened – like a serious sporting injury – that would not be considered a ‘natural cause’ of death.
What is the most common cause of natural death in the UK?
According to the latest NHS data, the leading cause of death in England and Wales is dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
That’s followed by heart disease, chronic respiratory diseases, cerebrovascular disease – meaning strokes and aneurysms – and lung cancer.