Even when a person has a terrible illness, dying can be a gradual process. It may be a very calm moment when someone is receiving excellent care, a time when the body releases go of life. This page explains how people’s bodies typically change as they die, though what happens varies from person to person.
The majority of people who are dying notice a slowing down of their body’s natural systems. Blood is circulated around the body more slowly as a result of the heart beating slightly more slowly or with less force. As a result, the brain and other organs receive less oxygen than is necessary and perform poorly.
The way a person dies also changes when their brain receives less oxygen than it should, which has an impact on how they think and respond to situations. The brain’s hormone production is also impacted, which has an impact on how other organs operate. Most dying people experience fatigue.
They might prefer to snooze more frequently or for longer intervals. Although some might desire to talk more, they might prefer to speak less. Due to the slowing of their stomach and digestive system, they might prefer to eat less or alternative things. A person who is dying may also lose weight and experience thinning skin. The body now struggles to replenish skin cells and other organs in the manner it once did.
You might experience a wide range of feelings, ranging from sadness over their passing to relief that their suffering is done, and everything in between. Take your time; you are free to spend as much time as necessary simply sitting with the deceased. When a person passes away in a hospital, nursing home, or hospice, the facility will handle all of the immediate next steps on your behalf.
