Schlager: Udo Jürgens: How sick was he really?

Udo Jürgens died of a cardiac arrest in 2014. But how did this come about?

Udo Jürgens: How sick was he really?

More than five years have passed since the sudden death of Udo Jürgens († 80). The cause at that time was: cardiac arrest. The singer was, according to daughter Jenny, 53, "very healthy". But Udo Jürgens' life was not always dazzling. On stage, professional and strong, the native Austrian hid his vulnerable side in everyday life. A new book now reveals how very much the pop singer was struggling with mental problems.

The anthology "At the beginning there is megalomania, at the end humility" (Sven Michaelsen) documents statements from conversations with Udo Jürgens. A passage illustrates the deep sadness that Udo Jürgens experienced in his worst phases: "I suffered from nightmares and chronic sleep disorders." However, the popular singer did not give therapy. Udo Jürgens justified this decision with the following words: "I never did therapy. I don't want to be free of suffering at all. I need the pendulum of euphoria and depression, because reason is the end of creativity!"

Doctors have now been able to prove that the psyche has an impact on cardiovascular diseases. Sleep disorders, nightmares, depression, fears can be linked to organ diseases. But the diagnosis of sudden cardiac death is not uncommon: It affects about 80,000 people every year in Germany alone, Professor Dr. knows Dietrich Andresen, board member of the German Heart Foundation.

The singer slumped on a walk, and shortly thereafter he was dead. Udo Jürgens remains unforgettable.

Sources used: schlager.de, praxisvita.de, tz

This article originally appeared on Gala.de.