Its normal to wonder what will happen when you die.
The dying process can happen gradually or it can occur very quickly.
The muscles relax, stiffen, and then relax again.
Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin
What Happens as You Begin to Die?
Dying is different for everyone.
It can happen quickly or progressively.
Those dying from a chronic illness may:
What Happens at the Moment of Death?
The determination of death must be made according to accepted medical standards.
When a person dies, the organs shut down at different rates.
For instance, the lungs typically cease working before the heart stops completely.
In some people, the brainstem stops functioning before other organs.
However, research suggests that brain activity may not cease at that point.
In a hospital, healthcare providers use a few criteria to declare death.
As muscles relax, sphincters release and allow urine and feces to pass.
This process can be more visible in people with light skin compared to darker skin.
The body immediately starts to cool from its normal temperature.
This is known as algor mortis.
This is sometimes called the postmortem stain.
The first muscles affected are the eyelids, jaw, and neck.
At this point, the deceaseds limbs are hard to move.
The knees and elbows will be slightly flexed, and the fingers and toes can look unusually crooked.
During secondary flaccidity, the skin shrinks and creates the illusion that the deceaseds hair and nails are growing.
Rigor mortis starts to disappear in the same order that it appeared over one to three days.
Summary
Death is the moment when the heart stops beating and breathing stops.
When death occurs, organs shut down and the brain ceases to function.
After death, the body goes through natural changes.
During the first hour, muscles relax, and the skin becomes pale.
Over the next two to six hours, muscles begin to stiffen.
This stiffening, called rigor mortis, peaks after seven to 12 hours.
Beyond 12 hours, the muscles start to relax again.
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Vermont Department of Health.Resuscitation initiation and termination.
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Kori S.Time since death from rigor mortis: forensic prospective.J Forensic Sci Crim Investig.
