Death

Death


Why?

  • Cells die without oxygen

  • Starvation and stomach/ intestinal problems are the only ways one cane die where lack of oxygen isn’t the direct cause of death

  • Oxygen deprivation = cell death

Necrobiosis

  • Death of cells over the lifespan of an organism

  • After necrobiosis, a cell is replaced with a new one in continual process throughout life

Necrosis

  • Deato of an organ or tissue

  • In medicine it is called and infraction

Clinical death

  • No breathing, circulation, or brain activity

  • Starts at the very onset of the symptoms of death

    • Eg: cardiac arrest has caused the heart to stop

    • This can last up to four minutes

      • When CPR can work

Brain death

  • A brain deprived of oxygen can survive from 4-7 minutes

  • Brain = frist organ to die

  • After this, medicine can’t bring them back

  • On life support - clinical death

  • Taken off life support

Energy deprivation

  • Energy is made of two things: nutrients and oxygen

  • Deprivation of these = death

  • Inability to process these = death


Causes of death

  • When oxygen or nourishment is available in the first place… suffocation or starvation

  • Lack of processing them… body functions not able to do this that hinders production of energy

  • Nearly always about oxygen:

  • Unless dehydration or starvation happens, death comes down to not getting to organs of the body


Why do cells die?

  • Cells poison themselves by trying to make energy without the necessary items

  • The byproduct is on acid which kills the cell and the cells surrounding it

  • The acid gets to the bloodstream and can kill blood cells and other tissues

  • By trying to stay alive, it kills itself

Post mortem

  • After someone dies…

  • Eyes turn cloudy and sink in becoming flat instead of rounded… very soon after brain death, good indication if CPR may work

  • Body begins to cool to the temp of its surroundings. Algor mortis (minutes or hours) … body cools from the outside in. corner will check the livers temp 

  • All blood clots will settle to the lowest part of the body

    • Liver mortis - settling of the blood

    • Blood dissolves in the areas to a bluish-red (bruise)

  • Face loses natural radiance of life

  • Muscle tissue stiffens everywhere in the body, occurring within a few hours and lasting up to 5 days (rigor mortis)

  • Tissues are broken down by enzymes released after the death of a tissue’s cells… skin is the last to decay (days)

  • Microbes in the intestine break down and oter internal organs ruptures the intestine, then breaks down other internal organs

    • Putrefaction - internal bacteria and microbe that cause decay… starts 2 days after death

  • The body warms up due to chemical processes

  • Swelling occurs due to gasses produced by putrefaction

  • A strong odour develops from decay

  • The skin begins to get creamy in colour and black streaks and patches are exposed

  • Collapsing in on itself, the body deflates as gases escape

  • The body dries out


Main causes of death


Heart disease:

  • Poor diet, smoking, sedentary lifestyle and other factors can lead to a buildup of fat and cholesterol in the arteries

  • Arteries narrow and harden (arteriosclerosis)

  • Can be hereditary

Asphyxiation:

  • Oxygen can’t get to blood

  • Includes serious chest injury, suffercation, and respitory infection (pneumonia)

  • Chest injury (blood filling lungs leaving no room for oxygen)

Laceration and nasty bruises

  • Laceration is a cut on the outside of the body

  • Bruise is internal bleeding

    • Car accidents can cause death by combination of laceration and internal injury from inpact

Cancer

  • Destroys orgnas and tissues

  • If the organ cant function, then it disrupts the energy making process

Stroke 

  • 2 main causes

    • Blocked artery in the brain (buildup of plague)

    • Cerebral artery ruptures (weakening the artery wall causing a bulge and then a rupture - aneurysm)


Causes of death in the world % that die


cause

Developed world

Developing world

Infectious and parasitic diseases

1%

43%

Birth complications

1%

10%

Cancers 

21%

9%

Circulatory system diseases

46%

24%

Respiratory diseases

8%

5%

Other and unknown 

23%

9%


Emotional stages of dying


There are 5 stages

  • They dont always flow in a particular order

  • Sages can be experienced more than once


Denial and isolation

  • They think the information cant be true

  • Happens at varying times throughout a patient's days:

    • Mild

    • Strong: change the subject (usually doesn't last long - not severe)

    • Introverted : want to be alone

  • This is nature and can be difficult to accept death

Anger

  • Why me?

  • Product of resentment, rage, envy, and anger

  • The anger can be transferred to other people: health care workers, family, healthy people

  • Resentment towards religion

  • Anger can be a assertion of life

Bargaining

  • “If i do something better can i be cured”

  • People want to postpone death

  • “Can I please do this one more time?”

Depression

  • Two types with two different causes

    • Sources is found in frustrations and complications

      • Finances, families emotions, medications, examination = overwhelming

    • Grief = difficult to deal with thought of ceasing to exist

Acceptance

  • Most people come to terms with their death

  • Company is important during final stages of a person’s life

  • Hearing is significant (last sense to go)

  • Calm of acceptance: the final rest before the long journey1