Billy Mays and epidural hematomas

This is an unfortunate week to be a celebrity: Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett and no Billy Mays.



Billy Mays, the Pitchman, died at the age of 50 yesterday at his home in Tampa, FL. Apparently he was on an exceptionally bumpy airplane ride the day before his death -- the front tires blew out on landing and the impact of the plane on the runway caused carry-on bags to fall from overhead.



Despite being hit in the head, Billy seemed to be doing well, until the evening, when he stated that he wasn't feeling well. The next morning he was found dead in his bed.





His death is similar to Michael Jackson's in several ways:



1. They were both 50.

2. The cause is yet unknown.



These are two important points:



1. Men often neglect their own health issues -- many of their potential health problems could be prevented through simple steps, such as:

- Quitting smoking (reducing the risk for cancer and heart disease/stroke).

- Exercising regularly (reducing the risk of most health problems).

- Eating a healthy diet (once again to reduce the risk factors for bad health).

and

- Seeing a doctor regularly for physical checkups (this can be especially useful in early detection of prostate cancer).



2. There is nothing special about these deaths, as opposed to everyone else who dies and every family and loved one who suffers. It is akin to the H1N1 Flu scare -- no more people died from this flu than from any other typical flu, yet most of us don't think about how many people die from the flu every year, until it hits the news networks.



So, what did Billy Mays die from. It is possible that he sustained a traumatic blow to his head, which caused tearing of the arteries (usually of the middle meningeal artery or its dural branches). After an injury, there may be a lucent period, followed by a neurological downturn.



It is difficult to say whether this is what happened or not (and so he will be having an autopsy), but it does highlight the central importance of good clinical history taking in neurological evaluations.



The untimely death of these celebrities should help raise our attention to potential health problems that may (at times) be avoidable. Most Americans die from heart disease and stroke; more public attention should be focused on reducing risk factors and ensuring that, at the earliest sign, people seek medical attention immediately.



--
Dr. Daniel Kantor, MD BSE
Medical Director
Neurologique