Death is a topic that not everyone is eager to discuss, but it is a part of life, and eventually, we all face it - whether it's losing someone we know and love or when our own time comes. Like any subject in life, the more we know about death, the less frightening it becomes. While we might not completely dispel the fear of it, we can at least approach it with better preparedness. Whether someone you know is terminally ill or on their deathbed, or you're worried about the day it might happen to you, here are 6 things you should know about what happens before we pass away.
1. Death is Usually a Process, Not a Single Moment
There are many causes of death, and while it can happen suddenly, in most cases, it is a process that unfolds over time. Whether due to illness or old age, there are signs that indicate death is approaching, such as slowing breathing, weakening and slowing pulse, lowering blood pressure, and changes in skin color. This process and the order in which symptoms appear vary from person to person, but generally, the skin first becomes pale, the fingers start to cool and take on a bluish tint, the pulse weakens, and then breathing becomes irregular.
2. When Breathing Slows, Death is Likely Near
When a dying person is close to death, there are moments when it seems like they stop breathing for 15-20 seconds. In such moments, family and friends around them might start to worry that death has already occurred, but it's important to understand that this is a natural part of the dying process and doesn't immediately indicate the end. However, when this happens, it may be time to start saying last words, as it's impossible to know when the final breath will come.
3. Death Has Two Stages
The first stage is clinical death, where the heart stops beating and breathing ceases entirely. 4-6 minutes later, brain cells begin to die due to lack of oxygen, leading to biological death, which is when the brain dies and with it, the person. It's important to understand this, because during the first stage and shortly after, it's still possible to save the person through CPR. However, if the brain has already entered the second stage of death, it's unlikely that CPR will succeed, as dead brain cells cannot be revived.
4. CPR Isn't Always Effective as Seen in Movies
Hospital dramas make us believe that CPR is a fairly quick process that usually ends successfully, but reality is quite different, especially when it comes to people with chronic illnesses. According to a study published in 2020 the success rates of CPR for people who suffered a heart attack are 12% when performed outside the hospital and 24-40% when done inside the hospital. It's important to understand that CPR is not a magic solution, even when done promptly, and its success rates are not as high as many tend to think.
5. CPR Can Also Have Negative Consequences on Life Afterwards
Although CPR helps bring a person back to life, sometimes the life they return to isn't quite the same as it was before. First, the CPR process itself can break ribs, leading to a long recovery in the hospital. There can also be complications for the entire oral and respiratory system, including broken teeth, damage to the vocal cords in the throat, lung collapse, and respiratory infections like pneumonia. Additionally, depending on how long the brain was deprived of oxygen, cognitive issues can arise, meaning that after CPR, the brain may not function as well as it did before.
6. Hearing is Usually the Last Sense to Go
A study published in 2020 conducted on terminal patients in a palliative care center showed that their auditory system's response was similar to that of healthy people until a few hours before death. When it seems that a person is nearing death, it's important to know that they can likely still hear you, so even if their condition appears severe, don't hesitate to say last words and express your love, feelings, and thoughts - they need your support, and they can hear you.
A Few Words in Conclusion
Death is a difficult topic to talk about, but if you've never heard of the things you've read here, you now know a little more about the journey toward it. Some of these points may even offer a bit of comfort, while others, like those regarding CPR, might highlight the negative aspects that can exist even in successful resuscitation. Either way, these are important things to know in order to prepare well for death and what it brings. We wish you and your loved ones many long years of good health, and if you know someone who could benefit from this information and is currently in a situation where it might help them cope, share this article with them.
