How does it feel to die

It's a question many are curious about, and perhaps a little scared of, but scientists are now closer than ever to understanding what actually happens as you die. Recent research studying the brains and bodies of dying people has provided new insights into the experience of dying.

Step 1: Relaxation

A recent meta-analysis found that most people in the Western world die in medical institutions. The first sign of death is a loss of hunger and thirst, which physicians call the beginning of active dying. This is caused by an intense feeling of relaxation, where you will likely only be capable of handling small spoonfuls of food and water.

Step 2: Extreme Fatigue and Unconsciousness

One study found that 72% of patients in this phase of death reported pre-death dreams involving reuniting with people who had already died. Additionally, 59% dreamed about getting ready to travel somewhere, and 28% dreamed of meaningful experiences from their past. These pre-death dreams occur because, at this time, you are mostly asleep and even dipping into unconsciousness. Studies of unconscious patients show that when they eventually wake up, they think they were only just asleep. Essentially, you are not aware of going in and out of consciousness. This stage of dying may feel like being unable to get out of bed from an intense cold or flu, but the sleep is no longer rejuvenating, and the fatigue is consistent. Because you are often unconscious, it’s harder to plan for oral medications, so you might be hooked up to syringe pumps or suppositories.

Step 3: Seeing Light

At this point, studies show that your heart will beat less forcefully, your blood pressure will fall, and your organs, including your brain, will function less effectively. Your brain tries to conserve energy as it slowly dies, leading to a loss of inhibition. People often report seeing light or moving towards the light during near-death experiences. Brain studies on rats show that a dying brain's lack of inhibition causes the visual brain system to fire. This phenomenon has also been found in some human studies, explaining why many people report seeing light as their brain begins to die.

Step 4: Scary Breathing, Known as the Death Rattle

An unconscious person's breathing still follows automatic patterns generated by the brain's respiratory system, but they lack proper awareness of their mouth and throat, leading to saliva buildup. The saliva in the back of the throat, mixed with automatic quick breaths, creates loud breathing noises often observed as disturbing. However, it's important to note that the dying person feels no distress; they are extremely relaxed.

Step 5: Brain Surging

A 2013 study on rat brains dying from cardiac arrest found that specific brain regions surged with synchronized low gamma waves, more coherent than when the rats were alive and healthy. These brain waves were similar to when rats engaged in high-level cognitive activity. This intrigued researchers about human brains during death. A study on 567 dying men and women who had their brains scanned while being resuscitated with CPR revealed that their brains fired in intense ways similar to rats. Survivors reported lucid experiences such as perception of separation from the body, observing events with no pain or distress, a meaningful evaluation of their life, and assessing their actions towards others. This is likely linked to the brain's disinhibition during death.

Some patients reported knowing they were dying but felt they were going towards a place that felt like home. Another study of a dying man's brain found activation similar to people on the psychedelic drug DMT. However, more recent studies found that resuscitated individuals reported experiences different from hallucinations, illusions, or even dreams.

What are people thinking about before they die? Are there common regrets or emotions? We delve into the cognitive side of dying, people's experiences, and advice for death in our podcast. Check the link in the description for more.