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Common end-of-life phenomenon seems ‘abnormal’ to healthy people, says hospice nurse
Several changes occur in the body towards the end of life, which may seem abnormal to those in the pink of health. A hospice nurse lists three aspects of death the general public doesn’t know.
Hospice nurse Julie McFadden has made it her mission to spread awareness about death so that the end-of-life phenomena are less scary to people watching their loved ones pass away.
3 strange facts about natural death
People in the dying phase experience strange symptoms as their body and mind’s ability to function normally starts to diminish.
That’s why hospice nurses make dead people wear diapers – it saves a lot of embarrassment. Your loved ones nearing passing may also start to smell like nail polish, which is also natural.
Here are three other things that usually happen when someone is dying naturally.
Dying people eat and drink less
While a healthy body is capable of digesting food and drinks, a dying body “starts kicking in certain mechanisms”, which results in lesser consumption of food and drinks.
However, people experiencing a natural death tend to sleep more, says the nurse. This is because the body starts to shut down to conserve energy as metabolism drops.
Dehydration feels better
A healthy body struggles to function when dehydrated, but that’s not the case with a dying person, who would feel better when there’s less fluid in the body.
This is because lesser fluid in the body reduces discomfort and distress caused by nausea or vomiting and other symptoms. Some people may experience “euphoria” when dehydrated as it causes lightheadedness.
Visions during death
It is common for dying people to have visions of their loved ones who are dead or see dead animals. The nurse believes the visions are “comforting” for the person on the deathbed by making them feel they “are going to be okay.”
Another common phenomenon that occurs at the end of life is rally or terminal lucidity. It is when the person looks like they are very close to death, but suddenly get better or look like they get better.
This supposedly occurs in one-third of the patients when they suddenly experience mental clarity but die shortly afterward.
Julie McFadden is a certified RN/BSN and author. She has been featured in several leading media outlets including Newsweek, New York Post, People, USA Today, BuzzFeed, and Daily Mail.
