What Happens to the Human Body in the Minutes Before and After Death?

Fast-forward to 2015. I remember the last conversation I had with my late grandfather. I was supposed to return to school that particular day when the old man joked, saying, “I doubt if you will find me when you get back.”

Yes, he had been ailing, but I never expected to hear such words from him. However, they say that old people sometimes know when their time has come, while the young often struggle to accept death because they still have so much they want to achieve.

To lighten the situation and return the favour, I decided to respond with a joke as well.

So I told him, “When you get there, make sure you keep coming back to me from time to time, just to let me know what happens on the other side.”

It was a strong joke, but it left me with many questions. What happens to someone immediately after they die? What happens to the human body after burial? And what happens next?

According to Chris Raymond, an expert on funerals, grief, and end-of-life issues, death triggers a series of changes in the body as vital functions cease, which occur either rapidly or gradually. 

Death marks that moment in life when your physical body stops working to survive 

What happens to the physical body when one dies?

Immediately after a person dies, the body stops fighting to survive. The heart, brain, and other vital organs, including the liver and kidneys, stop functioning.

As a result, the body systems that depend on these organs also shut down, bringing the processes that sustain life to an end.

How long does it take to die?

Cleveland Clinic explains that the time taken for a person to die varies depending on different conditions.

The Clinic says that the timeline depends on one’s health status, treatment they are receiving, and the cause of the death.

For example, untreated sudden cardiac arrest can result in death within minutes. 

On the other hand, with chronic conditions, the body may take weeks or even months to die.

Research indicates that treatments delay death and prolong the dying process. 

According to the Cleveland Clinic, slowing down this process makes it easier to recognize common signs that death is approaching.

Also Read: Autopsy Reveals Cause of Death of Bodies Found in Mwingi

Changes as the Body Begins to Die

Chris Raymond argues that dying varies for each person, occurring either rapidly or gradually. 

Individuals with chronic illnesses may:1

• Stop eating and/or drinking due to less appetite
• More sleep and less physical activity due to a lack of energy
• Experience temporary periods of unconsciousness
• Inability to control their bowel and bladder
• Experience a slowing pulse, along with slow or erratic breathing
• Experience a drop in body temperature
• Breakdown of your muscles and skin
• Produce an audible “death rattle” in the final moments of life
• Withdrawal and detachment – People tend to show less interest in activities they used to enjoy. They prefer being alone over visiting with others.
• Agitation – Another signal includes bursts of energy or the feeling of restlessness, making people feel capable of doing things that they’re not realistically able to do.

What happens to the body during death?

During death, the body’s vital functions stop entirely. 

• The heart stops pumping blood through the body.
• Breathing ceases, so no oxygen reaches the lungs.
• Brain activity ends or sharply declines. 

Body organs stop working at different times during death, with the lungs stopping first, followed closely by the heart.

However, the brain may continue to show activity for several minutes after both heartbeat and breathing have stopped. 

According to Raymond, this lingering brain activity might allow for a brief fading awareness during the dying process.

Also Read: Matatu Death Culture Must End: Ban Touts, End Impunity, Save Kenyan Lives

Signs Used to Determine Death

Death is declared when a person has:

• No pulse or heartbeat.
• No breathing or respiratory effort.
• No reflexes or response to stimuli.
• Pupils that do not react to bright light.
• No heart sounds detected through a stethoscope.

What happens to the body after death?

The body undergoes a series of changes after death as it adjusts to its new state. These changes begin quickly and continue over the course of several days.

• Muscles relax. Your muscles loosen immediately after death, releasing tension in your bowel and bladder. As a result, you may pass urine or stool. Your skin may also sag, making the underlying bone structure more visible.
• Body temperature drops. Your body temperature gradually decreases by about 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit (0.83 degrees Celsius) per hour. Eventually, your body temperature matches the temperature of the surrounding environment.
• Blood moves downward. Gravity pulls blood toward the lower parts of the body. As blood pools in these areas, the skin may develop a purplish-red appearance.
• Body stiffens. The stiffening process, known as rigor mortis, usually begins in the face and neck. It then progresses to the trunk before gradually spreading outward to the arms, legs, fingers, and toes.
• Body loosens again. A few days after death, the body’s tissues begin to break down, causing the stiffened muscles to relax again.

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City Mortuary, now known as Nairobi Funeral Home