We feel after death. How a person feels when he dies: interesting facts about the last moments of life. Physicists Michael Scott from Edinburgh and Fred Alan Wolf from California

Illustration copyright Getty

The decomposition of the human body after death is a very interesting topic, if you pluck up the courage and take a closer look at the details, the correspondent believes.

“It takes some work to straighten all this out,” says dissector Holly Williams, lifting John’s arm and carefully bending his fingers, elbow and hand. “Generally, the fresher the corpse, the easier it is for me to work with it.”

Williams speaks softly and carries himself with a positive and easy manner, contrary to the nature of his profession. She practically grew up in a family funeral home in the north of the US state of Texas, where she now works. She had seen dead bodies almost every day since childhood. She is now 28 years old and, by her estimate, has already worked with about a thousand corpses.

She collects the bodies of the recently deceased in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area and prepares them for burial.

“Most of the people we look for die in nursing homes,” says Williams. “But sometimes we come across victims of car accidents or shootings. It also happens that we are called to pick up the body of a person who died alone, lay there for several days or weeks and has already begun to decompose. In such cases, my work becomes very difficult."

By the time John was brought to the funeral home, he had been dead for about four hours. During his lifetime he was relatively healthy. He worked in the oil fields of Texas all his life and was therefore physically active and in good shape. He quit smoking decades ago and drank alcohol in moderation. But one cold January morning he suffered an acute heart attack at home (caused by some other, unknown reasons), he collapsed on the floor and died almost immediately. He was 57 years old.

Now John lies on Williams' metal table, his body wrapped in a white sheet, cold and hard. His skin is a purplish-gray hue, indicating that the early stages of decomposition have already begun.

Self-absorption

A dead body is actually not nearly as dead as it seems - it is teeming with life. More and more scientists are inclined to view the rotting corpse as the cornerstone of a vast and complex ecosystem that emerges shortly after death, thriving and evolving through the process of decomposition.

Decomposition begins a few minutes after death - a process called autolysis, or self-absorption, starts. Soon after the heart stops beating, the cells become starved of oxygen, and as toxic byproducts of chemical reactions accumulate, the cells become acidic. The enzymes begin to consume the cell membranes and leak out when the cells break down. Typically this process begins in the enzyme-rich liver and the brain, which contains a lot of water. Gradually, all other tissues and organs also begin to disintegrate in a similar way. Damaged blood cells begin to leak from the destroyed vessels and, under the influence of gravity, move into capillaries and small veins, causing the skin to lose color.

Illustration copyright Getty Image caption Decomposition begins within minutes of death

Body temperature begins to decrease and eventually equalizes the ambient temperature. Then rigor mortis sets in - it begins with the muscles of the eyelids, jaw and neck and gradually reaches the torso and then the limbs. During life, muscle cells contract and relax as a result of the interaction of two filament proteins, actin and myosin, which move against each other. After death, cells lose their energy sources and filament proteins become frozen in one position. As a result, muscles stiffen and joints become blocked.

During these early postmortem stages, the cadaver's ecosystem consists primarily of bacteria that also inhabit the living human body. A huge number of bacteria live in our bodies; different nooks and crannies of the human body serve as a haven for specialized colonies of microbes. The most numerous of these colonies live in the intestines: trillions of bacteria are collected there - hundreds, if not thousands of different species.

The gut microcosm is one of the most popular areas of research in biology, associated with overall human health and a huge range of different diseases and conditions, from autism and depression to troublesome bowel syndrome and obesity. But we still know quite little about what these microscopic passengers do during our lifetimes. We know even less about what happens to them after our death.

Immune collapse

In August 2014, forensic expert Gulnaz Zhavan and colleagues from the University of Alabama in the American city of Montgomery published the first-ever study of the thanatomicrobiome - bacteria living in the human body after death. Scientists derived this name from the Greek word “thanatos”, death.

“Many of these samples come to us from criminal investigations,” says Zhavan. “When someone dies from suicide, homicide, drug overdose or car accident, I take samples of their tissue. Sometimes there are difficult ethical issues, because we need the consent of relatives."

Illustration copyright Science Photo Library Image caption Soon after death, the immune system stops working, and bacteria are no longer prevented from spreading freely throughout the body.

Most of our internal organs do not contain microbes during life. However, soon after death, the immune system stops working, and nothing further prevents it from spreading freely throughout the body. This process usually begins in the intestines, at the border of the small and large intestines. The bacteria living there begin to consume the intestines from the inside, and then the surrounding tissues, feeding on the chemical mixture that flows from the collapsing cells. These bacteria then invade the blood capillaries of the digestive system and the lymph nodes, spreading first to the liver and spleen, and then to the heart and brain.

Zhavan and her colleagues took tissue samples from the liver, spleen, brain, heart and blood from 11 cadavers. This was done between 20 and 240 hours after death. To analyze and compare the bacterial composition of the samples, the researchers used two state-of-the-art DNA sequencing technologies in combination with bioinformatics.

Samples taken from different organs of the same corpse turned out to be very similar to each other, but they were very different from samples taken from the same organs in other dead bodies. This may be due to some extent to differences in the composition of the microbiomes (sets of microbes) of these bodies, but it may also be due to the time that has passed since death. An earlier study of decomposing mouse carcasses showed that the microbiome changes dramatically after death, but the process is consistent and measurable. Scientists were eventually able to determine the time of death to within three days within a nearly two-month period.

Unappetizing experiment

Zhavan's research suggests that a similar "microbial clock" appears to operate in the human body. Scientists have found that bacteria reach the liver approximately 20 hours after death, and it takes them at least 58 hours to reach all organs from which tissue samples were taken. Apparently, bacteria spread systematically in a dead body, and counting the time after which they enter a particular organ may be another new way to determine the exact moment of death.

Illustration copyright Science Photo Library Image caption Anaerobic bacteria convert hemoglobin molecules into sulfhemoglobin

“After death, the bacterial composition changes,” notes Zhavan. “The last places they get to are the heart, brain and reproductive organs.” In 2014, a group of scientists under her leadership received a $200,000 grant from the US National Science Foundation to conduct further research. “We will use next-generation genome sequencing and bioinformatics methods to find out which organ allows us to most accurately determine the time of death - we don’t know this yet,” says the researcher.

However, it is already clear that different sets of bacteria correspond to different stages of decomposition.

But what does the process of carrying out such research look like?

Near the city of Huntsville in the US state of Texas, half a dozen corpses lie in various stages of decomposition in a pine forest. The two freshest ones, with their limbs spread to the sides, are laid out closer to the center of a small fenced enclosure. Much of their loose, blue-gray skin is still preserved, and ribs and the ends of their pelvic bones protrude from the slowly rotting flesh. A few meters away from them lies another corpse, which has essentially turned into a skeleton - its black, hardened skin stretches over its bones, as if it were dressed in a shiny latex suit from head to toe. Further still, beyond the remains scattered by the vultures, lies a third body, protected by a cage of wooden slats and wire. It is nearing the end of its post-mortem cycle and has already been partially mummified. There are several large brown mushrooms growing where his belly once was.

Natural decay

For most people, the sight of a rotting corpse is at least unpleasant, and more often than not, repulsive and frightening, like a nightmare. But for the staff at the Southeast Texas Applied Forensics Science Laboratory, it's just business as usual. This institution opened in 2009, it is located on 100 hectares of forest owned by Sam Houston State University. In this forest, an area of ​​approximately three and a half hectares has been allocated for research. It is surrounded by a three-meter-high green metal fence with barbed wire running along the top, and inside it is divided into several smaller sections.

At the end of 2011, university employees Sybil Bucheli and Aaron Lynn and their colleagues left two fresh cadavers there to decompose in natural conditions.

Illustration copyright Getty Image caption Bacteria reach the liver approximately 20 hours after death, but it takes them at least 58 hours to reach all other organs.

When bacteria begin to spread from the digestive tract, triggering the process of self-absorption of the body, putrefaction begins. This is death at the molecular level: further decay of soft tissues, their transformation into gases, liquids and salts. It occurs in the early stages of decomposition, but gains full momentum when anaerobic bacteria come into play.

Putrefactive decomposition is the stage at which the baton is passed from aerobic bacteria (which require oxygen to grow) to anaerobic bacteria - that is, those that do not need oxygen.

During this process, the body becomes even more discolored. Damaged blood cells continue to leak from the disintegrating vessels, and anaerobic bacteria convert hemoglobin molecules (which carry oxygen throughout the body) into sulfhemoglobin. The presence of its molecules in stagnant blood gives the skin a marbled, greenish-black appearance, characteristic of a corpse in the stage of active decay.

Special habitat

As the pressure of gases in the body increases, abscesses appear across the entire surface of the skin, after which large areas of the skin separate and sag, barely holding on to the disintegrating base. Eventually the gases and liquefied tissues leave the corpse, usually exiting and leaking from the anus and other openings of the body, and often through torn skin on other parts of the body. Sometimes the gas pressure is so high that the abdominal cavity bursts.

Illustration copyright Science Photo Library Image caption Different sets of bacteria correspond to different stages of decomposition

Cadaveric distension is generally considered to be a sign of the transition from early to late stages of decomposition. Another recent study found that this transition is characterized by marked changes in the composition of cadaveric bacteria.

Bucheli and Lynn took samples of bacteria from different parts of the body at the beginning and end of the bloat stage. Then they extracted the microbial DNA and sequenced it.

Bucheley is an entomologist, so her primary interest is the insects that inhabit a corpse. She considers the dead body as a special habitat for various types of necrophagous insects (corpse-eaters), and for some of them the entire life cycle takes place inside, on, and near the corpse.

When liquids and gases begin to leave a decomposing organism, it becomes completely exposed to the environment. At this stage, the ecosystem of the corpse begins to manifest itself especially violently: it turns into the epicenter of the life of microbes, insects and scavengers.

Larval stage

Two types of insects are closely associated with decomposition: carrion flies and gray blowflies, as well as their larvae. The corpses emit an unpleasant, sickly-sweet odor caused by a complex cocktail of volatile compounds, the composition of which constantly changes as they decompose. Carrion flies sense this smell using receptors located on their antennae, land on the body and lay eggs in holes in the skin and in open wounds.

Each female fly lays about 250 eggs, from which small larvae hatch within a day. They feed on rotting meat and molt into larger larvae, which continue to eat and molt again after a few hours. After feeding for some more time, these now large larvae crawl away from the body, after which they pupate and eventually transform into adult flies. The cycle repeats until the larvae have no more food left.

Illustration copyright Science Photo Library Image caption Each female fly lays about 250 eggs

Under favorable conditions, the actively decaying organism serves as a haven for a large number of third-stage fly larvae. Their body mass produces a lot of heat, causing their internal temperature to rise by more than 10 degrees. Like flocks of penguins at the South Pole, the larvae in this mass are in constant motion. But if penguins resort to this method to keep warm, then the larvae, on the contrary, tend to cool down.

“It’s a double-edged sword,” explains Bucheli, sitting in his university office, surrounded by large toy insects and cute monster dolls. “If they are on the periphery of this mass, they risk becoming food for birds, and if they remain all the time in "They can simply cook in the center. Therefore, they constantly move from the center to the edges and back."

Flies attract predators - beetles, mites, ants, wasps and spiders - which feed on fly eggs and larvae. Vultures and other scavengers, as well as other large meat-eating animals, may also come to feast.

Unique composition

However, in the absence of scavengers, fly larvae are engaged in the absorption of soft tissues. In 1767, Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus (who developed a unified system for classifying flora and fauna) noted that “three flies can devour the carcass of a horse with the same speed as a lion.” The third stage larvae crawl away from the corpse en masse, often along the same trajectories. Their activity is so high that after decomposition is complete, their migration routes can be observed as deep furrows on the soil surface, diverging in different directions from the corpse.

Each species of living creature visiting a dead body has its own unique set of digestive microbes, and different types of soil support different colonies of bacteria - their exact composition appears to be determined by factors such as temperature, humidity, soil type and structure.

Illustration copyright Science Photo Library Image caption Fly larvae are engaged in the absorption of soft tissues

All these microbes mix with each other in the corpse ecosystem. Arriving flies not only lay eggs, but also bring their own bacteria with them and carry away those of others. The liquefied tissues flowing outwards allow bacterial exchange between the dead organism and the soil on which it lies.

When Bucheley and Lynn take samples of bacteria from dead bodies, they find microbes that originally lived on the skin, as well as others brought in by flies and scavengers, and from the soil. “As fluids and gases leave the body, so do the bacteria that lived in the intestines - more and more of them begin to be found in the surrounding soil,” explains Lynn.

Thus, each cadaver appears to have unique microbiological characteristics that may change over time to suit the conditions of its particular location. By understanding the composition of these bacterial colonies, the relationships between them, and how they affect each other during the decomposition process, forensic scientists may someday be able to obtain much more information about where, when and how the person under study died.

Mosaic elements

For example, identifying DNA sequences in a corpse that are characteristic of certain organisms or soil types can help forensic scientists link a murder victim to a specific geographic location or even narrow the search for evidence even further - down to a specific field in an area.

"There have been several trials where forensic entomology has come into its own and provided the missing pieces of the puzzle," says Bucheli. She believes that bacteria can provide additional information and serve as a new tool for determining the time of death. “I hope that in about five years we will be able to use bacteriological data in court,” she says.

Illustration copyright Science Photo Library Image caption Carrion flies are closely associated with decomposition

To this end, scientists are carefully cataloging the types of bacteria that live on and off the human body and studying how the composition of the microbiome varies from person to person. “It would be great to have a data set from birth to death,” says Bucheli. “I would like to meet a donor who would allow me to take bacterial samples during life, after death and during decomposition.”

"We're studying the fluid that comes out of decomposing bodies," says Daniel Wescott, director of the Center for Criminal Anthropology at the University of Texas at San Marcos.

Wescott's area of ​​interest is the study of the structure of the skull. Using computed tomography, he analyzes the microscopic structures of the bones of corpses. He works with entomologists and microbiologists, including Javan (who is in turn examining soil samples taken from the San Marcos experimental site where the corpses lie), computer engineers and a drone operator - his It helps take aerial photographs of the area.

“I read an article about drones being used to study agricultural lands to understand which ones are most fertile. Their cameras work in the near-infrared range, which shows that soils rich in organic compounds are darker in color than others "I thought that since such technology exists, perhaps it could be useful for us too - to look for these small brown spots," he says.

Rich soil

The “brown spots” that the scientist talks about are areas where corpses decomposed. A rotting body significantly changes the chemistry of the soil on which it lies, and these changes may be noticeable over the next few years. The shedding of liquefied tissue from dead remains enriches the soil with nutrients, and the migration of larvae transfers much of the body's energy to its environment.

Over time, as a result of this entire process, a “decomposition island” appears - an area with a high concentration of soil rich in organic matter. In addition to the nutritional compounds released into the ecosystem from the cadaver, there are also dead insects, scavenger dung, and so on.

Illustration copyright Getty Image caption Drone cameras operate in the near-infrared range, which scientists believe will help find places where corpses lay.

According to some estimates, the human body is 50-75% water, and each kilogram of dry body mass, when decomposed, releases 32 grams of nitrogen, 10 grams of phosphorus, four grams of potassium and one gram of magnesium into the environment. This initially kills the vegetation below and around it - perhaps due to nitrogen toxicity or due to antibiotics contained in the body, which are released into the soil by insect larvae that eat the corpse. However, decomposition ultimately benefits the local ecosystem.

The biomass of microbes on the island of decomposition of a corpse is significantly higher than in the surrounding area. Roundworms, attracted by the released nutrients, begin to reproduce in this area, and its flora also becomes richer. Further research into exactly how rotting cadavers change the ecology around them may help better locate murder victims whose bodies were buried in shallow graves.

Another possible clue to the exact date of death may come from soil analysis from the grave. A 2008 study of the biochemical changes occurring in the decomposition island of a corpse found that phospholipid concentrations in effluent fluid peaked approximately 40 days after death, and nitrogen and extractable phosphorus peaked at 72 and 100 days, respectively. As we study these processes in more detail, we may be able in the future to determine exactly when the body was placed in a hidden grave by analyzing the biochemistry of the soil from the burial.

Content

When someone close to us dies, the living want to know whether the dead can hear or see us after physical death, whether it is possible to contact them and get answers to questions. There are many real stories that support this hypothesis. They talk about the intervention of the other world in our lives. Different religions also do not deny that the souls of the dead are close to loved ones.

What does a person see when he dies?

What a person sees and feels when the physical body dies can only be judged by the stories of those who have experienced clinical death. The stories of many patients whom doctors were able to save have much in common. They all talk about similar sensations:

1. A man watches other people bending over his body from the side.
2. At first one feels strong anxiety, as if the soul does not want to leave the body and say goodbye to the usual earthly life, but then calm comes.
3. Pain and fear disappear, the state of consciousness changes.
4. The person doesn't want to go back.
5. After passing through a long tunnel, a creature appears in a circle of light and calls for you.

Scientists believe that these impressions do not relate to what the person who has passed on to another world feels. They explain such visions as a hormonal surge, the effects of medications, and brain hypoxia. Although different religions, describing the process of separation of the soul from the body, talk about the same phenomena - observing what is happening, the appearance of an angel, saying goodbye to loved ones.

Is it true that dead people can see us?

To answer whether deceased relatives and other people see us, we need to study different theories about the afterlife. Christianity talks about two opposite places where the soul can go after death - heaven and hell. Depending on how a person lived, how righteously, he is rewarded with eternal bliss or doomed to endless suffering for his sins.

When discussing whether the dead see us after death, we should turn to the Bible, which says that souls resting in paradise remember their lives, can observe earthly events, but do not experience passions. People who were recognized as saints after death appear to sinners, trying to guide them on the true path. According to esoteric theories, the spirit of the deceased has a close connection with loved ones only when he has unfulfilled tasks.

Does the soul of a deceased person see his loved ones?

After death, the life of the body ends, but the soul continues to live. Before going to heaven, she stays with her loved ones for another 40 days, trying to console them and ease the pain of loss. Therefore, in many religions it is customary to schedule a funeral for this time in order to escort the soul to the world of the dead. It is believed that ancestors see and hear us even many years after death. Priests advise not to speculate about whether the dead see us after death, but to try to grieve less about the loss, because the suffering of relatives is difficult for the deceased.

Can the soul of the deceased come to visit?

When the connection between loved ones was strong during life, this relationship is difficult to interrupt. Relatives can feel the presence of the deceased and even see his silhouette. This phenomenon is called a phantom or ghost. Another theory says that the spirit comes to visit for communication only in a dream, when our body is asleep and our soul is awake. During this period, you can ask for help from deceased relatives.

Can a deceased person become a guardian angel?

After the loss of a loved one, the pain of loss can be very great. I would like to know if our deceased relatives can hear us and tell us about their troubles and sorrows. Religious teaching does not deny that dead people become guardian angels for their kind. However, in order to receive such an appointment, a person during his lifetime must be a deeply religious person, not sin and follow God’s commandments. Often the guardian angels of a family become children who left early, or people who devoted themselves to worship.

Is there a connection with the dead?

According to people with psychic abilities, there is a connection between the real world and the afterlife, and it is very strong, so it is possible to perform such an action as talking to the deceased. To contact the deceased from the other world, some psychics conduct spiritualistic séances, where you can communicate with a deceased relative and ask him questions.

In Christianity and many other religions, the possibility of inducing a resting spirit through some kind of manipulation is completely denied. It is believed that all souls that come to earth belong to people who committed many sins during their lifetime or who did not receive repentance. According to Orthodox tradition, if you dream of a relative who has gone to another world, then you need to go to church in the morning and light a candle and help him find peace with prayer.

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American scientists claim that after this a person continues to see and be aware of everything that is happening around him. Death from a medical point of view is considered cardiac arrest. It stops and in an instant stops working, the person is no longer able to live. However, the work of the brain does not stop instantly, as is the case with the heart, but gradually fades. This explains the preservation of a person’s consciousness for some time after death is declared - the person continues to understand everything that is happening around, but cannot do anything. This condition can last from several minutes to hours after cardiac arrest.

This hypothesis is confirmed by studies of patients who have experienced clinical death. Almost half of them can remember their feelings and the words of people around them after stopping. One such study was conducted over 4 years, during which more than 2,000 patients were analyzed, of whom 16 percent experienced clinical death. Dr. Parnia and his colleagues interviewed one hundred of these survivors in order to learn about people's feelings during death and to prove that awareness of reality persists both at the moment of death and for some time after it.

Based on survey results, Parnia classified people’s visions during death into 7 main categories:

• Violent scenes, stalking and pursuit
• Bright white light (“light at the end of the tunnel”)
• Fear
• Close people
• Deja vu
• Animals, plants
• Memories of what happened after cardiac arrest

In general, the memories of clinical death turned out to be very different, but a pattern was found - these visions were either a terrible terrible nightmare, or something magnificent and desirable. This is explained by the different lifestyles and worldviews of patients, but scientists are not ready to establish the exact reasons for certain visions.

Many people do not retain memories of clinical death, most likely due to large cerebral edema. However, even if people do not remember this, clinical death will affect a person on a subconscious level. Some, after returning, cease to be afraid of death and begin to look at life completely differently, while others fall into a terrible state. All this suggests that death is a very little-studied area, on which dozens of studies have yet to be carried out. Dr. Parnia is not going to stop with the achieved result, since there are still many unresolved issues. Parnia believes it is necessary to obtain reliable data about what happens to a person during death in order to dispel all myths and prejudices in this regard.

Everyone dies. It is the matter of time. Of course, every person wants to live as long as possible, but, as the Persian philosopher and poet Omar Khayyam said, “...we are guests in this mortal world.” And a great mystery that will never be solved: what awaits us after death - eternal nonexistence or life in another reality? In any case, our spirit leaves the body forever, but what happens to the body when a person dies? Scientists have discovered seven surprising facts that happen to the body after a person takes his last breath. This information may shock the reader, so we advise those faint of heart to, figuratively speaking, “turn the page.”

1. The corpse releases urine and feces

In a deceased person, all the muscles relax because they no longer receive instructions from the brain. This includes relaxing the intestines and organs of the urinary system. Therefore, urine flows out of the body and feces come out freely, because the muscles that hold these fluids are no longer in good shape.

2. The skin of the corpse is compressed as much as possible

Have you heard the legend that a person's hair and nails continue to grow for some time after death? This is not true, but where did such speculation come from? The fact is that the skin of a deceased person quickly loses its moisture and elasticity, so it shrinks a little. As a result, it seems to others that the fingernails, toenails, and hair of the corpse have become longer several hours after death. This is not a magic trick, but simply an optical illusion.

3. Rigor mortis

After a certain time - from several minutes to several hours - after death, a condition known as rigor mortis occurs. This occurs when the released calcium ions accumulate in the muscles and cause the limbs to completely stiffen. At the same time, the pose of the corpse is fixed. But after a day or two, the muscles begin to degrade, so the corpse becomes flexible again.

4. The skin becomes “dead pale” and red spots appear.

Red spots appear on the skin of a deceased person not from blood seeping to the surface, but because gravity pulls the blood down and it goes to the lowest points of the body. As a result, the corpse becomes “deadly pale”, and in some places blood is visible, which retains its color. Around the same time, the dead body begins to smell foul because the rotten flesh releases certain chemicals.

5. Creak and groan

Air remains in the lungs of a deceased person for some time. When rigor mortis begins, the vocal cords become tense, while the proportion of gases in the body as a result of rotting increases. Eventually the accumulated gases force air out of the lungs through the vocal cords, and the corpse "moans" or "creaks." Can you imagine what the morgue employees hear from the dead? And if someone turns the corpse on its side, then the air will jump out of the lungs into the throat of the dead person through the vocal cords, through the mouth and nose, while the corpse “screams.” Undertakers used to have fun scaring people with this trick.

6. A pathologist does a full examination of a dead body.

Immediately after death, the corpse falls into the hands of a pathologist, who must perform a post-mortem examination. The doctor begins the examination by examining the dead body's appearance and noting details such as tattoos, signs of disease, and any physical injuries. The medical professional then makes an incision from the sternum to the chest to expose the internal organs. Working from top to bottom, the autopsy doctor examines the throat, lungs, heart, and large blood vessels around the heart. Then the doctor gets to the stomach, pancreas and liver. Finally, the pathologist checks the kidneys, intestines, bladder and reproductive organs. The doctor removes the tongue and breathing tube through the chest cavity. After removal, the doctor carefully examines all internal organs one by one. The pathologist then carefully removes the scalp and opens the skull to examine parts of the brain. When the examination is completed, the doctor returns all the organs to their places, sews up the body and gives it to relatives for burial.

7. The corpse completely decomposes in a few weeks

Bacteria, especially those that normally live in the human intestine and aid in digestion, begin to digest the body within a few days of death. These bacteria are capable of digesting about 60 percent of a dead body in just one week. The rate of decomposition of a corpse directly depends on the ambient temperature. If the corpse is kept in a coffin at 30 degrees Celsius, the flesh will completely decompose in about four months.

But don't worry, you have nothing to fear. You will not feel, see or hear anything, because the human brain dies literally a few minutes after the death of the body. A 2017 study shows that a patient's brain may exhibit brain activity for no more than 10 minutes after a person takes their last breath.

Death is a topic that evokes fear, sympathy, anxiety and pain in people. At the same time, everyone will have to face it sooner or later. If there is a hopelessly ill person with oncology in the house, after a stroke, a paralyzed or old person, the relatives are interested in what the symptoms and harbingers of impending departure are, and how the dying person behaves. It is important to know what happens when the end of life occurs, what to say to a loved one at death, how to help and what to do to ease his suffering. This will help you mentally and physically prepare for the death of a bedridden patient.

How people feel and behave before death

When a person dies, they feel inner grief. He experiences torment, his soul shrinks from the inside with the thought that the end is near. A dying person necessarily undergoes changes in the functioning of the body. This manifests itself emotionally and physically. Often the dying person becomes withdrawn and does not want to see anyone, becomes depressed, and loses interest in life.

It's hard for those close to you to watch this happen. You can clearly see how the loss of the soul by the body occurs, without the need to become a psychic. The symptoms of death are pronounced.

The patient sleeps a lot and refuses to eat. At the same time, global disruptions occur in the functioning of vital organs and systems.

Before death, a person may feel a sense of relief, especially for cancer patients. He seems to be getting better. Relatives notice a lift in mood and a smile on the face.

However, after some time the condition changes sharply for the worse. Soon the bedridden patient will experience relaxation of the body. The functions of the body's organs will sharply weaken. After this, the process of dying begins.

As for the care of older people (grandparents), the sensations before death will differ from those inherent in people suffering from, say, stage 4 cancer. Scientists say that the older a person is, the less afraid he is of dying, although the number of factors from which he can die increases. Some even want to hasten his death as quickly as possible, so that their loved ones do not see how he suffers. Before death, older people experience indifference, discomfort, and sometimes pain. Every 20 people feel uplifted.

How a person dies: signs

The approach of death is understood by clearly manifested signs. From them you can determine what death looks like, how death occurs.

Changing your sleep pattern

Many people are interested in what it means if an elderly person sleeps a lot. In the last weeks of life, cancer patients and other seriously ill and dying old people spend a lot of time sleeping. It's not just that you feel very weak and tired. People lose strength very quickly, it is difficult for them to get out of sleep, in a state of which it becomes physically easier, pain and discomfort decrease.

Therefore, those who are about to die have an inhibited reaction upon awakening and in the waking state.

Weakness and drowsiness cause all metabolic processes in the body to slow down. Against this background, difficulties arise in fulfilling physiological needs.

Weakness

Another sign signifying the onset of a person’s demise is weakness. We are talking about severe exhaustion, accompanied by weight loss and chronic fatigue. The situation reaches the point where a person tries to lie down, loses the ability to stand on his feet, do basic things: roll over in bed, hold a spoon, and so on.

In cancer patients, this symptom is associated with intoxication of the body and the development of necrosis - the death of tissues affected by cancer cells.

The nose becomes sharper

Before imminent death, the nose becomes sharper - this is one of the secondary signs. It means that the death of a loved one is near. Among our ancestors, when the nose becomes elongated or pointed, it was said that the dying person put on a “mask of death.”

The patient, who has only a few hours left, has sunken eyes and temples. The ears become cold and flaccid, the tips turn forward.

Before death, the face is symmetrical, the skin acquires a grayish or yellowish tint. Changes are also noted on the forehead. The skin in this area becomes tight and rough.

Sense organs

Before death, a person loses the ability to hear. This occurs due to a sharp drop in pressure to minimum levels. Therefore, instead of the usual sounds, he hears squeaking, strong ringing, and extraneous sounds. The critical indicators at which pressure death occurs are considered to be 50 to 20 millimeters of mercury.

The organs of vision also undergo changes. A dying person hides his gaze from the light before his death. The organs of vision become very watery, and mucus accumulates in the corners. The whites turn red and the blood vessels in them turn white. Doctors often observe a situation where the right eye is different in size from the left. The organs of vision may become sunken.

At night, when a person is sleeping, the eyes may be open. If this happens constantly, then the organs of vision should be treated with moisturizing ointments or drops.

If the pupils are open during the night, the eyelids and skin around the eyes are pale yellowish. This shade extends to the forehead, nasolabial triangle (triangle of death), which indicates the imminent death of a person. Especially when these signs are combined with deafness and blindness.

A dying person has impaired tactile sensations. A few hours before death they practically disappear. A person does not feel the touch of loved ones, he can hear extraneous sounds, and visions often appear. According to relatives who watched a loved one die, hallucinations are most often associated with dead people. At the same time, a long dialogue takes place between them.

If a person sees deceased relatives, there is no need to think that he has gone crazy. Relatives should support him and not deny the connection with the other world. This is useless and may offend the dying person, who may find it easier to accept his own passing in this way.

Refusal to eat

If the patient stops eating and does not drink water, this period is the most difficult for relatives. He indicates that the end is near. The dying person's metabolism slows down. The reason is constant lying down. The body no longer receives the nutrients necessary for proper functioning. He begins to consume his own resources - fat. That is why relatives note that the dying man has lost a lot of weight.

A person cannot live long without food. If the dying person cannot swallow, doctors prescribe the use of special probes to deliver food to the gastrointestinal tract. Glucose and a complex of vitamins are also prescribed.

If a person refuses food, he should not be forced. This way you can only do harm. It is enough to give him water in small portions. If he refuses it, then his family should at least lubricate his lips with it to prevent the formation of cracks.

“Robbing” himself

The sign means the desire of dying people to adjust their blankets, clothes, and straighten them. Some doctors and relatives say that a person moves his hands around himself, as if clearing the body and space of non-existent straws and threads. Some try to throw off the covers or use gestures to ask others to take off their clothes.

Our ancestors had a superstition: if a terminally ill person begins to “rob himself,” he will soon die. And before leaving, he tries to return to a state of purity, to free the body from everything superfluous and unnecessary.

Temporary improvement

If a person feels that the condition is improving, relatives should understand that it may indicate the approach of death. In medicine, this phenomenon is called “pre-mortem enhancement” or “neurochemical oscillation.” Numerous studies are still being conducted on this matter. Doctors still cannot figure out the true cause of this condition. Therefore, many believe that otherworldly forces are involved in this. The phenomenon is more often observed in cancer patients.

The body always fights the disease to the last, spending all its strength and resources on it. Before his death, he works at full capacity. At the same time, other functions weaken - motor, motor, etc.

When the body's strength is exhausted, its defenses are turned off. At the same time, functions are activated. The person becomes active, mobile, talkative.

In medical practice, there have been cases when a person who had been lying in bed for a long time wanted to get up and go outside, but after several hours death occurred.

Stool and urinary disorders

If a seriously ill person does not pass urine, this is due to the fact that the supply of water is reduced or completely absent, with disruptions in the filtration function of the kidneys. The violation causes the color to change and the amount of biological fluid to decrease. Urine takes on dark yellow, brown, and reddish shades. It contains a huge amount of toxins that poison the body.

At one point, the kidneys may stop functioning. And if you do not provide emergency assistance to the patient, then in the near future he will die.

A person near death is very weakened and is unable to independently control urination. Therefore, the way for him to go to the toilet and not burden his family once again is to purchase diapers or duckies.

At the end of life, it is difficult to empty the bladder, and problems with the intestines occur. Involuntary cleansing occurs due to the inability to go big on your own.

Sometimes people in whose home a seriously ill or elderly person dies believe that constipation is normal. However, the accumulation of feces in the intestines and their hardening lead to abdominal pain, from which the person suffers even more. If he has not gone to the toilet for 2 days, in this case, contact the doctor to prescribe mild laxatives.

Strong medications with a laxative effect should not be given to the patient. This leads to another problem - loose stools and diarrhea.

Thermoregulation

Those who cared for seriously ill people focus on the fact that before they died they were sweating all the time. The fact is that a violation of thermoregulation is a sign of approaching death. The dying person's body temperature rises, then drops sharply. The limbs become cold, the skin becomes pale or yellow, and a rash appears in the form of cadaveric spots.

This process is easy to explain. The fact is that as brain cells approach death, neurons gradually die off. The turn comes to those departments that are responsible for thermoregulation in the body.

In case of high temperature, treat the skin with a damp towel. The doctor also prescribes medications that are effective in relieving fever.

These drugs will not only reduce body temperature, but also relieve pain.

If the patient cannot take medications due to the lack of a swallowing reflex, then it is better for relatives to purchase them in the form of rectal suppositories or in injection form. This way the active ingredient will be absorbed into the blood much faster.

Brain fog and memory problems

There is a disturbance of reason due to the pathological functioning of some parts of the brain and other vital organs. Due to hypoxia, lack of nutrients, refusal of food and water, a person sees and imagines a different reality.

In this state, the dying person may say something, mutter, or be lost in space and time. This causes fear among relatives. However, you should not shout or disturb him. Failure in brain functions gradually leads to their fading, which causes clouding of the mind.

Confusion can be reduced by leaning over the patient and saying the name quietly. If he does not come to his senses for a long time, the doctor usually prescribes mild sedatives. Relatives of the dying person should prepare for the fact that if they are delirious, they may not realize that death is approaching.

Periods of “enlightenment” are often observed. Relatives understand that this is not an improvement in the condition, but a sign of approaching death.

If the patient is unconscious all the time, then the only thing his family can do is whisper goodbye to him. He will definitely hear them. Such passing in an unconscious state or in a dream is considered the most painless death.

Brain reactions: hallucinations

When dying, global changes occur in parts of the brain. First of all, its cells begin to gradually die due to oxygen starvation - hypoxia. Often in the process of their death, a person experiences hallucinations - auditory, tactile, visual.

An interesting study was conducted by Californian scientists. The results were published in 1961. Surveillance was carried out on 35,500 dying people.

Most often, people's visions were associated with religious concepts and represented heaven and paradise. Others saw beautiful landscapes, rare fauna and flora. Still others talked to deceased relatives and asked them to open the gates of heaven.

The finding of the study was that the nature of the hallucinations was not related to:

• with a form of the disease;
• age;
• religious preferences;
• individual characteristics;
• education;
• level of intelligence.

Observations have shown that human dying goes through 3 stages:

• resistance- awareness of danger, fear, desire to fight for life;
• memories- fear disappears, pictures from the past flash in the subconscious;
• transcendence- that which is beyond the mind and senses is sometimes referred to as cosmic consciousness.

Venous spots

Venous, or cadaveric spots are areas of the body that are soaked in blood. They occur before a person’s death, during dying, and within a few hours after death. Externally, the areas resemble bruises - only large in area.

At first they have a grayish-yellowish tint, then become blue with a dark purple tint. After death (2-4 hours), the skin stops turning blue. The color turns gray again.

Venous spots form due to blockage of blood circulation. This causes the blood circulating in the circulatory system to slow down and fall down under the influence of gravity. For this reason, the venous area of ​​the bloodstream becomes overcrowded. The blood shows through the skin, as a result it becomes clear that parts of it have turned blue.

Edema

Appear on the lower and upper extremities. Usually accompanied by the formation of venous spots. Occur due to global impairment or cessation of kidney function. If a person has cancer, the urinary system cannot cope with toxins. Fluid accumulates in the feet and hands. This is a sign that means a person is dying.

Wheezing

The death rattle resembles a crackling, gurgling, blowing air from the lungs through a straw into the bottom of a mug filled with water. The symptom is intermittent, a bit like hiccups. On average, 16 hours pass from the onset of this phenomenon to death. Some patients die within 6 hours.

Wheezing is a sign of impaired swallowing function. The tongue stops pushing saliva, and it flows down the respiratory tract, ending up in the lungs. The death rattle is the lungs' attempt to breathe through saliva. It is worth noting that the dying person is not in pain at this moment.

To stop wheezing, your doctor will prescribe medications that reduce saliva production.

Predagonia

Predagonia is a protective reaction of vital body systems. Represents:

• disruptions in the functioning of the nervous system;
• confusion, slow reaction;
• drop in blood pressure;
• tachycardia alternating with bradycardia;
• deep and frequent breathing, alternating with rare and superficial;
• increased heart rate;
• the skin acquires different shades - first it turned pale, yellowed, then turned blue;
• the appearance of seizures, convulsions.

This condition often progresses slowly from several hours to one day.

Death throes

Starts with short breaths or one deep one. Next, the breathing rate increases. The lungs do not have time to ventilate. Gradually, breathing fades away. At the same time, the nervous system is completely blocked. At this stage, the pulse is present only in the carotid arteries. The person is in an unconscious state.

During agony, the dying person rapidly loses weight. This phenomenon ends with cardiac arrest and clinical death. The period of how long the agony lasts is from 3 minutes to half an hour.

How long to live: watching the dying

Predicting the exact time of death is almost impossible.

Signs indicating that a person has only a few minutes left until the end of his life:

• Changing lifestyle, daily routine, behavior. These are early signs. Occurs several months before death.
• Impaired perception. Occurs 3-4 weeks before death.
• 3-4 weeks before death, people eat poorly, lose their appetite, and are unable to swallow (several days before death).
• Brain dysfunction. Happens in 10 days.
• A person sleeps more and stays awake less. When death is already close, he remains asleep for days. Such people do not live long. They are given only a few days.
• In most cases, 60-72 hours before death, a person is delirious, his consciousness is confused, he does not reflect reality. Can talk to dead people.

Symptoms that indicate the process of a person’s dying.

• Shortly before death, black vomit is observed. In the last hours of life, the patient may urinate or have bowel movements. If the biological fluid turns black, this indicates bleeding and is often observed in cancer patients.
• The cornea becomes cloudy.
• The lower jaw droops, the mouth is open.
• The pulse is too slow or cannot be felt.
• The pressure becomes minimal.
• The temperature readings are jumping.
• Noisy breathing and wheezing appear.
• At the moment of death, the pectoral muscles contract. Therefore, it may seem to relatives that the person continues to breathe.
• Cramps, convulsions, foam at the mouth.
• The limbs become cold, the legs and arms swell, the skin becomes covered with cadaverous spots.

Symptoms of clinical and biological death

Death occurs when there is an irreversible disruption of the vital systems of the body, followed by a cessation of the functioning of individual organs and tissues.

Most often, people die due to illness, injuries incompatible with life, drug addicts from an overdose of potent substances, alcoholics from toxic poisoning of the body. People die from old age much less often. Those who die from severe injuries or accidents experience quick death and do not experience the painful symptoms that sick people experience.

After a person passes away, an autopsy is required. This solves the question of how to find out the cause of death.

After the agony, clinical death occurs. The period for which the body lives after its onset is 4-6 minutes (until the cells of the cerebral cortex die), during which time it is possible to provide assistance to a person.

The main symptoms of clinical death.

• No signs of life.
• Convulsions. There is involuntary urination, ejaculation, and defecation due to severe muscle spasm.
• Agonal breathing. 15 seconds after death, the chest is still moving. The so-called agonal breathing continues. The deceased breathes quickly and shallowly, sometimes wheezes, and foams at the mouth.
• No pulse.
• There is no reaction of the pupils to light. It is the main sign of the onset of clinical death.

If resuscitation measures are not started within 4-6 minutes, the person experiences biological death, in which the body is considered dead.

Its characteristic symptoms are:

How to help

• It is believed that information about the allotted time should not be hidden. Perhaps the patient will want to see someone or visit old friends and colleagues.
• If a dying person finds it difficult to come to terms with the inevitability of the end, and he believes that he will get better, there is no need to convince him. It is important to support and encourage him, not to start a conversation about his latest wishes and parting words.
• If relatives cannot cope with emotions, then it is better to involve a psychotherapist or psychologist. A difficult test for a dying person is a manifestation of cowardice and grief of loved ones.
• Help for the dying is to reduce the physical and moral suffering of the patient.

  It is important to purchase in advance the medications and supporting agents necessary to alleviate the condition. First of all, this concerns painkillers for cancer patients. Often, obtaining a prescription for narcotic substances for a patient is not an easy task.

• It is recommended to involve palliative services to smooth out the symptoms of diseases.
• Perhaps the dying person will want to talk to the priest from the church so that he can forgive his sins.
• If a person who is dying wants to discuss death, it is imperative to keep the conversation going. The awareness of the approach of one's death is a difficult feeling. There is no need to distract the patient, otherwise he will withdraw into himself, plunge into loneliness and fears.
• If the patient insists on limiting contacts, there is no need to refuse him.
• If the dying person is ready and willing, you can discuss the funeral with him or draw up a will. It is advisable to offer to write a letter to someone with whom he would like to say goodbye. Let him indicate parting words or advice in the news.
• It is recommended to fulfill your cherished desire. Dying people ask to give medicines, clothes, books, records and other things to people in need or loved ones.
• It is important to remember to give more time to a person who is dying. Do not pay attention to the clouding of his mind, that he begins to talk, sometimes drives away loved ones. Perhaps in the latter case, he wants to be alone with himself or does not want to show his torment and pain.
• There is no need to tell the dying person that you will grieve, miss him, or cannot imagine life without him. But if you plan to plant a tree in his memory, you can inform the person about it.

What do they say in such a situation?

When communicating with a dying person, you do not need to take the leading role in the conversation. It is better to ask for advice and guidance. Don’t be shy to ask, thank, remember the best moments, how good it was, talk about love, that this is not the end, and everyone will meet in a better world. Be sure to say that he is forgiven for everything.

Tactile contact is important. The patient should feel that he is not alone when death approaches.

Condolences are expressed to the relatives of the deceased, but it is advisable to avoid pretentious phrases. It is better to say sincerely and simply how difficult the loss is, to name the best qualities of a person. It is recommended to indicate your participation, offer assistance in organizing the funeral, and moral support.

How to prepare for death

It is impossible to be prepared for the loss of a loved one. However, some preparations will help ease the difficult period.

• Funeral planning. It is advisable to think about which church to hold the funeral service, which cemetery to bury or where to cremate, where to invite people to the wake.
• If a person is a believer, it is recommended to talk with the priest, invite him to the dying person, and find out about actions after the death of a loved one.
• The dying person does not need to communicate his assumptions about the funeral unless he asks about it. Otherwise, it may look like a desire to speed up your death.
• Be prepared for a difficult emotional period, do not suppress feelings, give yourself the right to grieve. Take sedatives, visit a psychotherapist.

Do not blame anyone for the death of a loved one, accept and come to terms with it. It is important to remember that prolonged grief, grief and self-torment will not give the soul peace and will pull it back to the earth.