Symptoms of a person dying of old age. Swelling and changes in skin color

The following information will help you answer some questions.

Signs of approaching death

The process of dying is as diverse (individual) as the process of birth. Impossible to predict exact time death, and how exactly the person will die. But people facing death experience many of the same symptoms, regardless of the type of illness.

As death approaches, a person may experience some physical and emotional changes, such as:

A dying person may experience other symptoms depending on the disease. Talk to your doctor about what you can expect. You can also contact the program for helping the hopelessly ill, where all your questions regarding the dying process will be answered. The more you and your loved ones know, the more prepared you will be for this moment.

As death approaches, a person sleeps more and it becomes more and more difficult to wake up. Periods of wakefulness are becoming shorter and shorter.

As death approaches, your caregivers will notice that you are unresponsive and that you are in very deep sleep. This condition is called coma. If you are in a coma, you will be confined to a bed and all your physiological needs (bathing, turning, eating and urinating) will have to be supervised by someone else.

General weakness is a very common occurrence as death approaches. It is normal for a person to need assistance with walking, bathing, and going to the toilet. Over time, you may need help turning over in bed. Medical equipment such as wheelchairs, a walker or a hospital bed can be of great help during this period. This equipment can be rented from a hospital or care center for the terminally ill.

As death approaches, periods of rapid breathing may be followed by periods of breathlessness.

Your breath may become wet and congested. This is called the "death rattle." Changes in breathing usually happen when you are weak and normal discharge from yours respiratory tract and the lungs cannot come out.

Although noisy breathing may be a signal to your family, you probably won't feel any pain or notice any congestion. Since the fluid is deep in the lungs, it is difficult to remove it. Your doctor may prescribe oral tablets (atropine) or patches (scopolamine) to relieve congestion.

Your loved ones may turn you on your other side to help the discharge come out of your mouth. They can also wipe this discharge with a damp cloth or special tampons (you can ask for it at a help center for the hopelessly ill or buy it at pharmacies).

Your doctor may prescribe oxygen therapy to relieve your shortness of breath. Oxygen therapy will make you feel better, but will not prolong your life.

Deterioration of vision is very common in the last weeks of life. You may notice that your vision has become difficult. You may see or hear things that no one else notices (hallucinations). Visual hallucinations are common before death.

If you are caring for a dying person who is hallucinating, you need to reassure them. Acknowledge what the person sees. Denying hallucinations can be distressing to a dying person. Talk to the person, even if he or she is in a coma. It is known that dying people can hear even when they are in a deep coma. People who came out of comas said that they could hear the entire time they were in the coma.

Hallucinations are the perception of something that is not actually there. Hallucinations can involve all the senses: hearing, seeing, smelling, tasting or touching.

The most common hallucinations are visual and auditory. For example, a person may hear voices or see objects that another person cannot see.

Other types of hallucinations include gustatory, olfactory and tactile.

Treatment for hallucinations depends on the cause.

As death approaches, you are likely to eat and drink less. This is associated with a general feeling of weakness and a slower metabolism.

Since food has such important social significance, it will be difficult for your family and friends to watch you not eat. However, changes in metabolism mean that you do not need the same amount of food and fluid as before.

You can consume small amounts of food and liquid as long as you are active and able to swallow. If swallowing is a problem for you, you can prevent thirst by moistening your mouth with a damp cloth or a special swab (available at a pharmacy) soaked in water.

Often the kidneys gradually stop producing urine as death approaches. As a result, your urine turns dark brown or dark red. This is due to the inability of the kidneys to properly filter urine. As a result, the urine becomes very concentrated. Its quantity is also decreasing.

As appetite decreases, some changes also occur in the intestines. The stool becomes harder and more difficult to pass (constipation) as the person takes in less fluid and becomes weaker.

You should tell your doctor if you have bowel movements less than once every three days or if your bowel movements cause you discomfort. Stool softeners may be recommended to prevent constipation. You can also use an enema to cleanse your colon.

As you become increasingly weak, it is natural that you will have difficulty controlling your bladder and bowels. They may put it in your bladder urinary catheter as a means of continuous drainage of urine. The terminally ill program may also provide toilet paper or underwear (they can also be purchased at the pharmacy).

As death approaches, the area of the brain responsible for regulating body temperature begins to function poorly. You may have a high fever and then feel cold within a minute. Your hands and feet may feel very cold to the touch and may even become pale and blotchy. Changes in skin color are called mottled skin lesions and are very common in last days or hours of life.

The person caring for you can monitor your temperature by rubbing your skin with a wet, slightly warm washcloth or giving you the following medications:

Many of these medications are available in the form rectal suppositories if you have difficulty swallowing.

Just as your body prepares physically for death, you must prepare for it emotionally and mentally.

As death approaches, you may lose interest in the world around you and certain details of daily life, such as the date or time. You may withdraw into yourself and communicate less with people. You may only want to communicate with a few people. This kind of introspection can be a way of saying goodbye to everything you knew.

In the days before your death, you may enter a unique state of conscious awareness and communication that may be misinterpreted by your family and friends. You can talk about how you need to go somewhere - “go home” or “go somewhere.” The meaning of such conversations is unknown, but some people think that such conversations help prepare for death.

Events from your recent past may be mixed with distant events. You can remember very long ago events in great detail, but not remember what happened an hour ago.

You may be thinking about people who have already died. You may say that you heard or saw someone who has already died. Your loved ones may hear you talking to the deceased person.

If you are caring for a dying person, you may be upset or frightened by this strange behavior. You may want to bring your loved one back to reality. If this kind of communication is bothering you, talk to your doctor to better understand what's going on. Your loved one may fall into a state of psychosis, and this may be scary for you to watch. Psychosis occurs in many people before death. It may have one cause or be the result of several factors. Reasons may include:

Symptoms may include:

Delirium tremens can sometimes be prevented with alternative medicine, such as relaxation and breathing techniques, and other methods that reduce the need for sedatives.

Palliative care can help you relieve physical symptoms associated with your illness, such as nausea or difficulty breathing. Controlling pain and other symptoms is an important part of your treatment and improving your quality of life.

How often a person feels pain depends on their disease. Some fatal diseases, such as bone cancer or pancreatic cancer, can be accompanied by severe physical pain.

A person can be so afraid of pain and others physical symptoms that he may be thinking about physician-assisted suicide. But the pain before death can be effectively dealt with. You should tell your doctor and loved ones about any pain. There are many medications and alternative methods (such as massage) that can help you cope with the pain of death. Be sure to ask for help. Ask a loved one to tell the doctor about your pain if you are unable to do so yourself.

You may want your family not to see you suffer. But it is very important to tell them about your pain if you cannot bear it so that they see a doctor immediately.

Spirituality means a person's awareness of the purpose and meaning of his life. It also denotes a person's relationship with higher powers or energy that gives meaning to life.

Some people don't think about spirituality often. For others, it is part of everyday life. As you approach the end of your life, you may be faced with your own spiritual questions and challenges. Connecting with religion often helps some people achieve comfort before death. Other people find solace in nature, social work, strengthening relationships with loved ones, or creating new relationships. Think about what can give you peace and support. What questions concern you? Seek support from friends, family, programs, and spiritual guides.

Caring for a dying relative

Physician-assisted suicide refers to the practice of medical professionals assisting a person who voluntarily chooses to die. This is usually done by prescribing a lethal dose of medication. Although the doctor is indirectly involved in the death of a person, he is not the direct cause of it. Oregon is currently the only state to have legalized physician-assisted suicide.

A person with a terminal illness may consider suicide with the assistance of a physician. Among the factors that can cause such a decision are severe pain, depression and fear of dependence on other people. A dying person may consider himself a burden to his loved ones and not understand that his family wants to provide him with their help as an expression of love and sympathy.

Often a person with a terminal illness contemplates suicide with the assistance of a doctor when his physical or emotional symptoms don't get it effective treatment. Symptoms associated with the dying process (such as pain, depression or nausea) can be controlled. Talk to your doctor and family about your symptoms, especially if your symptoms bother you so much that you think about dying.

Control of pain and symptoms at the end of life

At the end of life, pain and other symptoms can be managed effectively. Talk to your doctor and loved ones about the symptoms you are experiencing. Family is an important link between you and your doctor. If you yourself cannot communicate with a doctor, your loved one can do this for you. There is always something that can be done to relieve your pain and symptoms so that you feel comfortable.

There are many painkillers available. Your doctor will choose the easiest and most atraumatic drug to relieve pain. Oral medications are usually used first because they are easier to take and less expensive. If you don't have sharp pain, painkillers can be purchased without a doctor's prescription. These include drugs such as acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin or ibuprofen. It is important to stay ahead of your pain and take your medications as scheduled. Irregular use of medications is often the cause of ineffective treatment.

Sometimes pain cannot be controlled with over-the-counter medications. In this case, more effective forms of treatment are needed. Your doctor may prescribe painkillers such as codeine, morphine, or fentanyl. These medications can be combined with others, such as antidepressants, to help you get rid of your pain.

If you cannot take the pills, there are other forms of treatment. If you have trouble swallowing, you can use liquid medications. Medicines can also be in the form of:

Many people who suffer from severe pain fear that they will become dependent on painkillers. However, addiction rarely occurs in terminally ill people. If your condition improves, you can slowly stop taking the medicine to prevent dependence.

Painkillers can be used to manage the pain and help keep it at a tolerable level. But sometimes painkillers make you drowsy. You can only take a small amount of medications and, accordingly, endure a little pain in order to remain active. On the other hand, perhaps weakness is not a big deal for you and you are not bothered by drowsiness caused by certain medications.

The main thing is to take medications on a specific schedule, and not just when “the need arises.” But even if you take medications regularly, you may sometimes feel severe pain. These are called "breakthrough pain." Talk to your doctor about what medications you should always have on hand to help manage breakthrough pain. And always tell your doctor if you stop taking your medicine. Stopping suddenly can cause serious side effects and severe pain. Talk to your doctor about ways to relieve pain without using drugs. Alternative medical therapy can help some people relax and get rid of pain. You can combine traditional treatment With alternative methods, such as:

Free legal advice:

For more detailed information, see the Chronic Pain section.

While you are learning to cope with your illness, short-term emotional distress is normal. Depression that lasts more than 2 weeks is no longer normal and should be reported to your doctor. Depression can be treated even if you have fatal disease. Antidepressants in combination with counseling from a psychologist will help you cope with emotional distress.

Talk to your doctor and family about your emotional distress. Although feelings of grief are a natural part of the dying process, this does not mean you have to endure severe emotional pain. Emotional suffering can make physical pain worse. They can also have a negative impact on your relationships with loved ones and prevent you from saying goodbye to them properly.

As death approaches, you may experience other symptoms. Talk to your doctor about any symptoms you may experience. Symptoms such as nausea, fatigue, constipation or shortness of breath can be managed with medication, special diets and oxygen therapy. Have a friend or family member describe your symptoms to a doctor or emergency services worker. It can be helpful to keep a journal and write down all your symptoms.

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What are the signs that death is near?

Among the signs of a person’s decline can be noted a decrease in appetite; a person not only eats less, because it becomes more difficult for him to digest food, but also begins to drink less. Metabolism slows down and the body gradually dehydrates. This causes drowsiness, he wants to sleep constantly and waking up is difficult. This is due to the fact that the protective mechanism is activated, hibernation. Weakness progresses; sometimes it is not only difficult for a dying person to simply turn over in bed, but even to swallow a sip of water. Cloudiness of consciousness and disorientation appear due to the fact that the brain, among other organs, suffers. There may be a desire to isolate yourself from the whole world, self-isolation. Difficulty urinating causes swelling, especially swelling in the legs. Urine comes out rarely, has dark color, due to the fact that toxins are not eliminated from the body in urine in time, they accumulate in the blood, causing renal failure and a quiet fall into a coma. The hands and feet begin to get cold because the body sends blood first to the most important organs - the brain, heart, liver. Impaired blood circulation causes the appearance of various venous patterns on the extremities and in places where they are compressed, the so-called “cadaver spots”. Facial features sharpen, it becomes more symmetrical. Just before death, a final burst of enlightenment of consciousness is possible, after which the person usually dies.

The process of fading of human life varies from person to person, but there are some common signs that will help relatives prepare for this serious test. Excessive drowsiness, changes in breathing (prolonged breath holdings), loss of appetite, changes in body temperature. At the emotional level, changes in a dying person can also be noticeable, when a person ceases to be interested in the world around him, everyday life, etc. Often the dying days are accompanied by hallucinations, delusions, when the patient begins to say something incomprehensible to us, or communicates with someone invisible. It is necessary at this stage to communicate as much as possible with the dying person, if it is not a burden to him.

For a bedridden patient approaching care, the signs of impending death may vary. But there are several common signs that precede death.

He may experience mental anxiety, torment from the fact that not everything has been done, and something that has been done cannot be corrected. The psychological balance is disturbed, the emotional background changes. The mood can change from closedness, complete silence to a state of psychosis, when a person worries loved ones, tugging at them over little things. From categorical demands for euthanasia to complete indifference and apathy.

Relatives have to put up with this or alleviate the situation with medications.

Appetite disappears, swallowing becomes difficult, problems appear in the gastrointestinal tract (constipation). Laxative or enemas required.

On the last day there is significant relief, when the patient can even get up and do something. The phase quickly gives way to relaxation, an irreversible loss of activity, accompanied by the attenuation of vital functions. Weakness and fatigue from lack of energy are increasing. Increasingly, the patient is dozing or sleeping. Due to relaxation of the sphincters, urine leakage and fecal incontinence may occur.

From severe exhaustion, the eyeballs sink until the eyelids cannot close. Then the relatives of the dying person need to moisturize the eyes, for example, with saline solution.

The ability to hear is preserved, but auditory and visual hallucinations, confusion, and loss of orientation are possible. It is not worth convincing the patient that he sees (hears) something that is not there, so as not to excite him. The kidneys begin to fail, the urine is very dark, even reddish, and swelling appears. The skin turns pale, and wandering venous spots may appear under it. Breathing becomes more rapid, unstable, intermittent. Just before the end, blood flows to the heart and brain, which is why the limbs become cold.

Thermoregulation is disrupted, and changes in the patient's sensations from freezing to a feeling of heat are observed.

Terminal tachypnea (wheezing) appears from the movement of mucus in the lungs and bronchi. If you turn a person on his side, wheezing decreases.

Dying passes quietly, as they say, “the easy way.”

But there is also a “difficult road”, agonal delirium, accompanied by severe agitation, disorientation, even psychosis. May be accompanied by agitation, unreasonable fears and anxieties, speech anxiety, attempts to escape, etc. Logical reasoning becomes impossible.

In addition to providing regular care, the dying person also requires psychological participation, which alleviates the patient’s feelings of inability to care for himself and the awareness of his approaching death.

In general, predictors (signs) are divided into explicit and conditional. According to clinics where cancer patients are treated, a third of them do not experience obvious physiological symptoms before death.

But in most cases 3 days before. there is a decrease in response to verbal irritation, reaction to gestures and facial expressions of personnel. The “smile line” drops, the voice sounds in an unusual timbre (grunting vocal cords). Hyperextension (relaxation) neck muscles With increased mobility cervical vertebrae. The pupils stop responding to light. Bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract is possible.

If at least half of the symptoms are present, then doctors mean sudden death.

I heard that there are six signs of approaching death.

I couldn't find descriptions of all six.

I know something is going on with my ears. Somehow they determine it by the ears.
according to the color of the eyes - they become colorless or dull. It’s as if the light is going out in them. But this can happen to many old people.
skin - I don’t know what’s wrong with the skin, but there is some secret in the condition skin.
heels. Spots appear on the heels due to poor circulation.
Should food refusal be included here? Almost loss of interest in food and water. They only slightly moisten their lips and mouth in order to say something at the end.

The person himself can feel the approach of departure.

For example, my grandmother said goodbye to everyone and asked everyone for forgiveness a few days before her death. It was strange for me, especially since I didn’t know about forgiveness then, I thought that they apologize (ask for forgiveness) only when they are guilty.

When my father fell ill almost for the first time in my life, I saw death in his eyes. The sisters didn't believe it. But he didn't want to live. I also saw the reluctance to live in the eyes of my father-in-law when he also became seriously ill. But the older sister’s father-in-law, after two heart attacks and a severe stroke, survived, albeit not for long after the stroke. And even then, when he was on artificial nutrition and almost did not regain consciousness, it was clear that he was not going to die. And then a miracle happened before my eyes: his grandchildren arrived, he looked at them, his gaze cleared and he died easily.

Death is always close. It is always within walking distance. It’s just that sometimes she reminds us of herself by touching us and this cannot be confused with anything. Then we quickly realize “what are we talking about? Why are we here? And what else should we do?” For those who remember this, life is like a dance - the last dance and death takes another step back to admire.

People who cared for dying people claim that there are such signs:

the dying begin to see the dead;
they themselves know that the hours are numbered, even if there is a sharp improvement in the disease;
they dream of dead relatives calling them;
according to some signs, their reality has been changed and is poorly understood by others.

Before death, a person usually becomes bright and beautiful, and the blush returns. From physiology, the body is cleansed. I saw how a man often went to the toilet, although he had not eaten anything for several days. And it’s as if all his sorrows are leaving him. But when they are preparing for death, this does not apply to sudden death.

There are different options; what a person who has passed away can see cannot be said. I believe that death comes unexpectedly; unfortunately, no one asks about it. Although I know and have seen that people felt better before leaving for another world, it seemed that they were getting better, and then suddenly and unexpectedly.

If this is your loved one, a relative, for example by blood, a sister, perhaps a chronically ill person or with a disability. There are often visits to doctors, there are also hospitals, even intensive care units. All forces and means are always mobilized to cure and pull a person out of illness. Always and unconditionally! Every time you get scared when you feel unwell or call about another ambulance or hospitalization. But if, along with this, a terrible intuition of a bad outcome suddenly penetrates this time, this is not a hint from God, as such a phenomenon is interpreted, it is a signal to you from a loved one, that same spiritual connection manifests itself at the most critical moments of life. Then, caring for and observing the patient in the intensive care unit, daily changes are visible, with excellent care and the availability of medications. In my soul there is hope for recovery and salvation by all means, even such non-medical ones as Epiphany water, conducting rituals by a priest in a hospital, as well as the help of believers in different cities, when they pray for salvation, they usually ask for this from those places they have been to, saints like Optina Pustyn, for example.

But the fading is noticeable: you can touch the limbs, look at the connected equipment, the lack of shine and recognition of relatives is most noticeable in the eyes, if you ask to even blink, it does not resonate in the last 24 hours, or hours, if there was a reaction before, even a change in mood , excitement.

It is bitter, incomprehensible and unfair, visiting every day, in intensive care, hoping and believing, but at the same time observing, while being next to the patient, the reaction of the staff (watching us!). This is also a good test or litmus. I agree with what is listed in the other answers. physiological signs, especially regarding renal failure and coma. This happens almost always to everyone. I regret that I found out the answers to a similar question almost six months ago, and a day later we would have celebrated her birthday together. I was left alone. This is a terrible loss for me, I haven’t shared it with anyone for six months. She closed her door. On her birthday I will repeat: “The Earth has become poorer with one flower, the Firmament has become richer with one star!”

Bedridden patient: signs before death. Changes with a person before death

If there is a bedridden patient in the house who is in serious condition, it will not hurt the relatives to know the signs of approaching death in order to be well prepared. The process of dying can occur not only physically, but also mentally. Considering the fact that each person is individual, each patient will have their own characteristics, but there are still some general symptoms that will indicate the imminent end of a person’s life.

How can a person feel as death approaches?

We are not talking about the person for whom death is sudden, but about patients who for a long time are sick and bedridden. As a rule, such patients can experience mental anguish for a long time, because being in their right mind a person understands perfectly well what he has to endure. A dying person constantly feels all the changes that occur in his body. And all this ultimately contributes to constant changes in mood, as well as loss of mental balance.

Most bedridden patients withdraw into themselves. They begin to sleep a lot, but remain indifferent to everything that happens around them. There are also frequent cases when, just before death, patients’ health suddenly improves, but after a while the body becomes even weaker, followed by a failure of all vital functions of the body.

Signs of imminent death

It is impossible to predict the exact time of departure to another world, but paying attention to the signs of approaching death is quite possible. Let's look at the main symptoms that may indicate imminent death:

The patient loses his energy, sleeps a lot, and the periods of wakefulness become less and less each time. Sometimes a person can sleep for a whole day and stay awake for only a couple of hours.
Breathing changes, the patient may breathe either too quickly or too slowly. In some cases, it may even seem that the person has completely stopped breathing for a while.
He loses his hearing and vision, and sometimes hallucinations may occur. During such periods, the patient may hear or see something that is not really happening. You can often see him talking to people who have long been dead.
A bedridden patient loses his appetite, and he not only stops using protein food, but also refuses to drink. To somehow allow moisture to seep into his mouth, you can dip a special sponge in water and moisten your dry lips with it.
The color of urine changes, it becomes dark brown or even dark red in color, while its smell becomes very pungent and toxic.
Body temperature often changes, it can be high, and then drop sharply.
An elderly bedridden patient may become lost in time.

Of course, it is impossible to extinguish the pain of loved ones from the imminent loss of their loved one, but it is still possible to prepare and prepare yourself psychologically.

What does drowsiness and weakness in a bedridden patient indicate?

When death approaches, a bedridden patient begins to sleep a lot, and the point is not that he feels very tired, but that it is simply difficult for such a person to wake up. The patient is often in deep sleep, so his reaction is inhibited. This condition is close to coma. The manifestation of excessive weakness and drowsiness naturally slows down some of a person’s physiological abilities, so in order to roll over from one side to the other or go to the toilet, he will need help.

What changes occur in respiratory function?

Relatives who care for the patient may notice how his rapid breathing will sometimes give way to breathlessness. And over time, the patient’s breathing may become moist and stagnant, causing wheezing to be heard when inhaling or exhaling. It occurs because fluid collects in the lungs, which is no longer removed naturally by coughing.

Sometimes the patient is helped by being turned from one side to the other, then the liquid can come out of the mouth. Some patients are prescribed oxygen therapy to relieve suffering, but it does not prolong life.

How do vision and hearing change?

Minute clouding of consciousness in severely ill patients can be directly related to changes in vision and hearing. This often happens in their last weeks of life, for example, they stop seeing and hearing well, or, on the contrary, they hear things that no one else can hear.

The most common are visual hallucinations just before death, when a person thinks that someone is calling him or he sees someone. In this case, doctors recommend agreeing with the dying person in order to at least somehow cheer him up; you should not deny what the patient sees or hears, otherwise it can greatly upset him.

How does your appetite change?

In a bedridden patient, before death, the metabolic process may be reduced, which is why he stops wanting to eat and drink.

Naturally, to support the body, the patient should still be given at least some nutritious food, so it is recommended to feed the person in small portions until he is able to swallow. And when this ability is lost, then it is no longer possible to do without IVs.

What changes occur in the bladder and intestines before death?

Signs of imminent death of a patient are directly related to changes in the functioning of the kidneys and intestines. The kidneys stop producing urine, so it becomes dark brown in color, because the filtration process is disrupted. Small amounts of urine may contain great amount toxins that have a detrimental effect on the entire body.

Such changes can lead to complete failure of the kidneys, the person falls into a coma and dies after a while. Due to the fact that appetite decreases, changes occur in the intestines themselves. The stool becomes hard, causing constipation. The patient needs to alleviate the condition, so relatives who care for him are recommended to give the patient an enema every three days or make sure that he takes a laxative on time.

How does body temperature change?

If there is a bedridden patient in the house, the signs before death can be very diverse. Relatives may notice that a person’s body temperature is constantly changing. This is due to the fact that the part of the brain that is responsible for thermoregulation may not function well.

At some point, body temperature can rise to 39 degrees, but after half an hour it can drop significantly. Naturally, in this case, it will be necessary to give the patient antipyretic drugs, most often Ibuprofen or Aspirin are used. If the patient does not have the function of swallowing, then antipyretic suppositories can be given or an injection can be given.

Just before death, the temperature immediately drops, the arms and legs become cold, and the skin in these areas becomes covered with red spots.

Why does a person’s mood often change before death?

A dying person, without realizing it, is gradually preparing himself for death. He has enough time to analyze his entire life and draw conclusions about what was done right or wrong. It seems to the patient that everything he says is misinterpreted by his family and friends, so he begins to withdraw into himself and stops communicating with others.

In many cases, clouding of consciousness occurs, so a person can remember everything that happened to him a long time ago in the smallest details, but he will no longer remember what happened an hour ago. It can be scary when this condition reaches the point of psychosis, in which case it is necessary to consult a doctor who can prescribe sedatives to the patient.

How can I help a dying person relieve physical pain?

A bedridden patient after a stroke or a person who has become incapacitated due to another illness may experience severe pain. To somehow alleviate his suffering, it is necessary to use painkillers.

A pain reliever may be prescribed by your doctor. And if the patient does not have any problems with swallowing, then the drugs can be in the form of tablets, but in other cases injections will have to be used.

If a person has a serious illness that is accompanied by severe pain, then it will be necessary to use drugs that are available only by prescription, for example, these could be Fentanyl, Codeine or Morphine.

Today, there are many drugs that will be effective for pain, some of them are produced in the form of drops that are dripped under the tongue, and sometimes even a patch can provide significant help to the patient. There is a category of people who are very careful about painkillers, citing the fact that addiction may occur. To avoid addiction, as soon as a person begins to feel better, you can stop taking the drug for a while.

Emotional stress experienced by the dying person

Changes with a person before death concern not only his physical health, but also affect his psychological state. If a person experiences a little stress, then this is normal, but if the stress lasts for a long time, then most likely it is deep depression which a person experiences before death. The fact is that everyone can have their own emotional experiences and will show their own signs before death.

A bedridden patient will experience not only physical pain, but also mental pain, which will have an extremely negative impact on his general condition and will bring the moment of death closer.

But even if a person has a fatal illness, relatives should try to cure their loved one’s depression. In this case, the doctor may prescribe antidepressants or consultations with a psychologist. This natural process, when a person becomes despondent, knowing that he has very little time left to live in the world, therefore relatives must do their best to distract the patient from sad thoughts.

Additional symptoms before death

It should be noted that there are different signs before death. A bedridden patient may experience symptoms that are not detected in others. For example, some patients often complain of constant nausea and urge to vomit, although their illness is in no way related to gastrointestinal tract. This process is easily explained by the fact that due to illness, the body becomes weaker and cannot cope with the digestion of food, which can cause certain problems with the functioning of the stomach.

In this case, relatives will need to seek help from a doctor who can prescribe medications to alleviate this condition. For example, for persistent constipation, a laxative can be used, but for nausea, others are prescribed. effective drugs, which will dull this unpleasant feeling.

Naturally, not a single such drug can save life or prolong it indefinitely, but it can alleviate suffering dear person It is still possible, so it would be wrong not to take advantage of this chance.

How to care for a dying relative?

Today there are special means for caring for bedridden patients. With their help, the person caring for the patient makes his work much easier. But the fact is that a dying person requires not only physical care, but also a lot of attention - he needs constant conversations in order to be distracted from his sad thoughts, and only family and friends can provide emotional conversations.

A sick person must be absolutely calm, and unnecessary stress will only bring the minutes of his death closer. To alleviate the suffering of a relative, you need to seek help from qualified doctors who can prescribe all the necessary medications to help overcome many unpleasant symptoms.

All the signs listed above are general, and it should be remembered that each person is individual, which means that the body can behave differently in different situations. And if there is a bedridden patient in the house, his signs before death may turn out to be completely unexpected for you, since everything depends on the disease and on the individuality of the organism.

Unfortunately, after life there always comes death. Now science is unable to prevent old age and its inevitable fatal consequences. Relatives and friends of seriously ill patients need to be prepared for this. What does a bedridden patient experience before death? How should caregivers respond to signs of impending death? We will talk about this below.

Phases of Death

There are several phases of a person's condition that occur before his death. Signs of the first stage (“pre-active phase”) can begin 2 weeks before the terrible event. During this period, the patient begins to consume less food and liquid than usual, pauses in breathing occur, wound healing worsens, and swelling appears. Also, the patient may claim imminent death and report that he has seen dead people.

Then follow these phases:

clinical death (signs of vital activity disappear, but cells still experience metabolic processes);
biological death (almost complete cessation of physiological processes in the body);
final death (final phase).

Signs of approaching death

Signs of death in a bedridden patient may be different in each case. There are several main ones:

Certain diseases cause specific symptoms. Thus, signs of death in a cancer patient often manifest themselves in the form of pain, nausea, confusion, anxiety and shortness of breath (with a stroke, such symptoms are less common).

It should also be noted that low blood pressure or prolonged cessation of respiratory movements (or if the bedridden patient is constantly sleeping) are not reliable indicators of imminent death in all cases. Some patients with these symptoms may suddenly recover and survive for a week, a month, or even more. Only God knows when death will occur.

How to behave correctly with a loved one

What should family and friends do if they see signs of approaching death? It is always very difficult to talk to a dying person. There is no need to give false promises and hopes of recovery. Tell the patient that his last wishes will be fulfilled. He should not think that anything is being hidden from him. If a person wants to talk about life and its last moments, you need to do this, and not try to hush up the topic and say something detached. Before death, let the patient know that he is not alone, say words of consolation.

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After all, this helps to mentally prepare for the inevitable end and notice the changes taking place in time. Let's discuss together the signs of death of a patient and pay attention to their key features.

Most often, signs of imminent death are classified into primary and secondary. Some develop as a consequence of others. It is logical that if a person begins to sleep more, then he eats less, etc. We will look at all of them. But, cases may be different and exceptions to the rules are acceptable. The same as options for a normal median survival rate, even with a symbiosis of terrible signs of a change in the patient’s condition. This is a kind of miracle that happens at least once in a century.

What signs of death do you know?

Changing sleep and wake patterns

Discussing the initial signs of approaching death, doctors agree that the patient has less and less time to stay awake. He is more often immersed in superficial sleep and seems to be dozing. This saves precious energy and reduces pain. The latter fades into the background, becoming, as it were, background. Of course, the emotional side suffers greatly. The paucity of expression of one’s feelings, the self-isolation of the desire to remain silent more than to speak leave an imprint on relationships with others. The desire to ask and answer any questions, to be interested in everyday life and the people around you disappears.

As a result, in advanced cases, patients become apathetic and detached. They sleep almost 20 hours a day unless there is acute pain or serious irritating factors. Unfortunately, such an imbalance threatens stagnant processes, mental problems and accelerates death.

Swelling

Very reliable signs of death are swelling and spots on the legs and arms. We are talking about malfunctions in the kidneys and circulatory system. In the first case of oncology, the kidneys do not have time to cope with toxins and they poison the body. In this case, metabolic processes are disrupted, blood is redistributed unevenly in the vessels, forming areas with spots. It’s not for nothing that they say that if such marks appear, then we're talking about about complete dysfunction of the limbs.

Problems with hearing, vision, perception

The first signs of death are changes in hearing, vision and normal sensation of what is happening around. Such changes can occur against the background of severe pain, cancer, blood stagnation or tissue death. Often, before death, you can observe a phenomenon with the pupils. The eye pressure drops and when pressed you can see how the pupil is deformed like a cat's.

Regarding hearing, everything is relative. It can recover in the last days of life or even worsen, but this is more agony.

Reduced need for food

When a cancer patient is at home, all her loved ones note the signs of death. She gradually refuses food. First, the dose decreases from a plate to a quarter of a saucer, and then the swallowing reflex gradually disappears. There is a need for nutrition through a syringe or tube. In half of the cases, a system with glucose and vitamin therapy is connected. But the effectiveness of such support is very low. The body tries to use up its own fat reserves and minimize waste. This worsens the patient’s general condition, causing drowsiness and difficulty breathing.

Urinary problems and problems with natural needs

It is believed that problems with going to the toilet are also signs of approaching death. No matter how funny it may seem, in reality there is a completely logical chain in this. If defecation is not carried out once every two days or with the regularity to which a person is accustomed, then feces accumulate in the intestines. Even stones can form. As a result, toxins are absorbed from them, which seriously poison the body and reduce its performance.

It's about the same story with urination. It's harder for the kidneys to work. They allow less and less fluid to pass through and eventually the urine comes out saturated. In it high concentration acids and even blood is noted. For relief, a catheter can be installed, but this is not a panacea in the general context. unpleasant consequences for a bedridden patient.

Problems with thermoregulation

Natural signs before the death of a patient are impaired thermoregulation and agony. The limbs begin to get very cold. Especially if the patient has paralysis, then we can even talk about the progress of the disease. The blood circulation decreases. The body fights for life and tries to maintain the functioning of the main organs, thereby depriving the limbs. They may turn pale and even become blue with venous spots.

Weakness of the body

Signs near death Everyone's may be different depending on the situation. But more often than not, it's about severe weakness, weight loss and general fatigue. A period of self-isolation begins, which is aggravated by internal processes of intoxication and necrosis. The patient cannot even raise his arm or stand on a duck for natural needs. The process of urination and defecation can occur spontaneously and even unconsciously.

Foggy mind

Many see signs of impending death in the way the patient’s normal reaction to the world. He can become aggressive, nervous, or vice versa – very passive. Memory disappears and attacks of fear may occur due to this. The patient does not immediately understand what is happening and who is nearby. The areas in the brain responsible for thinking die. And obvious inadequacy may appear.

Predagonia

This is a protective reaction of all vital systems in the body. Often, it is expressed in the onset of stupor or coma. The main role is played by regression of the nervous system, which causes in the future:

Decreased metabolism

Insufficient ventilation of the lungs due to breathing problems or alternating rapid breathing with stopping

Serious damage to organ tissue

Agony

Agony is usually called a clear improvement in the patient’s condition against the background of destructive processes in the body. In fact, these are the last efforts to save necessary functions for continued existence. May be noted:

Improved hearing and restored vision

Establishing a breathing rhythm

Normalization of heart contractions

Restoring consciousness in the patient

Muscle activity like cramps

Decreased sensitivity to pain

The agony can last from several minutes to an hour. Usually, it seems to foreshadow clinical death, when the brain is still alive, and oxygen ceases to flow into the tissues.

These are typical signs of death in bedridden people. But you shouldn’t dwell too much on them. After all, there may be another side of the coin. It happens that one or two such signs are simply a consequence of an illness, but they are completely reversible with proper care. Even a hopelessly bedridden patient may not have all these signs before death. And this is not an indicator. So, it is difficult to talk about mandatory rules, as well as to impose death sentences.

Bedridden patient: signs before death. Changes with a person before death

How can a person feel as death approaches?

We are not talking about a person for whom death is sudden, but about patients who have been sick for a long time and are bedridden. As a rule, such patients can experience mental anguish for a long time, because being in their right mind a person understands perfectly well what he has to endure. A dying person constantly feels all the changes that occur in his body. And all this ultimately contributes to constant changes in mood, as well as loss of mental balance.

Signs of imminent death

The patient loses his energy, sleeps a lot, and the periods of wakefulness become less and less each time. Sometimes a person can sleep for a whole day and stay awake for only a couple of hours.
Breathing changes, the patient may breathe either too quickly or too slowly. In some cases, it may even seem that the person has completely stopped breathing for a while.
He loses his hearing and vision, and sometimes hallucinations may occur. During such periods, the patient may hear or see something that is not really happening. You can often see him talking to people who have long been dead.
A bedridden patient loses his appetite, and he not only stops eating protein foods, but also refuses to drink. To somehow allow moisture to seep into his mouth, you can dip a special sponge in water and moisten your dry lips with it.
The color of the urine changes, it becomes dark brown or even dark red, and its smell becomes very pungent and toxic.
Body temperature often changes, it can be high, and then drop sharply.
An elderly bedridden patient may become lost in time.

Of course, it is impossible to extinguish the pain of loved ones from the imminent loss of their loved one, but it is still possible to prepare and prepare yourself psychologically.

What does drowsiness and weakness in a bedridden patient indicate?

What changes occur in respiratory function?

How do vision and hearing change?

How does your appetite change?

In a bedridden patient, before death, the metabolic process may be reduced, which is why he stops wanting to eat and drink.

What changes occur in the bladder and intestines before death?

Signs of imminent death of a patient are directly related to changes in the functioning of the kidneys and intestines. The kidneys stop producing urine, so it becomes dark brown in color, because the filtration process is disrupted. A small amount of urine can contain a huge amount of toxins that have a detrimental effect on the entire body.

How does body temperature change?

Just before death, the temperature immediately drops, the arms and legs become cold, and the skin in these areas becomes covered with red spots.

Why does a person’s mood often change before death?

How can I help a dying person relieve physical pain?

A bedridden patient after a stroke or a person who has become incapacitated due to another illness may experience severe pain. To somehow alleviate his suffering, it is necessary to use painkillers.

Emotional stress experienced by the dying person

Changes with a person before death concern not only his physical health, but also affect his psychological state. If a person experiences a little stress, then this is normal, but if the stress lasts for a long time, then most likely this is the deep depression that a person experiences before death. The fact is that everyone can have their own emotional experiences and will show their own signs before death.

A bedridden patient will experience not only physical pain, but also mental pain, which will have an extremely negative impact on his general condition and will bring the moment of death closer.

But even if a person has a fatal illness, relatives should try to cure their loved one’s depression. In this case, the doctor may prescribe antidepressants or consultations with a psychologist. This is a natural process when a person becomes despondent, knowing that he has very little time left to live in the world, so relatives should do their best to distract the patient from sad thoughts.

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Additional symptoms before death

It should be noted that there are different signs before death. A bedridden patient may experience symptoms that are not detected in others. For example, some patients often complain of constant nausea and vomiting, although their disease has nothing to do with the gastrointestinal tract. This process is easily explained by the fact that due to illness, the body becomes weaker and cannot cope with the digestion of food, which can cause certain problems with the functioning of the stomach.

In this case, relatives will need to seek help from a doctor who can prescribe medications to alleviate this condition. For example, for persistent constipation, a laxative can be used, and for nausea, other effective medications are prescribed that will dull this unpleasant feeling.

Naturally, not a single such drug can save a life or prolong it indefinitely, but it is still possible to alleviate the suffering of a loved one, so it would be wrong not to take advantage of this chance.

How to care for a dying relative?

Signs that an elderly person is approaching death

The article will give you mixed feelings. On the one hand, there is mental anguish and suffering. On the other hand, there is a clear understanding of what remains to be experienced. Of course, nothing can replace or drown out the pain of losing a loved one. After reading the note, you will at least be mentally prepared for this.

How does a dying person feel?

On the threshold of death, many things change. Both from the physiological and emotional side. But, like everything in our lives is individual, the onset of death is also purely personal.

This cannot be predicted or changed. But there are similar symptoms, regardless of pre-existing conditions, that all older people experience.

10 signs of approaching death

Drowsiness and weakness in the body
A person sees and hears what others do not notice
Weak, intermittent breathing
Urine turns dark red or brown
Problems with stool
Appetite disappears
Body temperature ranges from too high to extremely low
Mood and feelings change
Legs are swollen
Venous spots appear (especially on the soles of the feet)

Let's talk about each of the points in more detail.

Constant drowsiness and weakness in the body

The period of wakefulness is shortened, metabolism slows down. By hibernating, the body tries to protect itself from dehydration and fatigue. Therefore, an elderly person constantly feels sleepy. At the same time, the sleep is deep, without any reaction. It's getting more and more difficult to wake up in the morning.

Don't wake the person. Let him sleep as much as his body requires. Moreover, even while in deep sleep, he hears and remembers your words.

Visual and auditory hallucinations

Seeing and hearing things that others do not notice is quite normal in this situation. There is nothing mysterious or suspicious here. In addition, hallucinations can affect the organs of vision, smell, tactile and taste.

Breathing changes

Becomes intermittent, wet, noisy and stagnant. It stops more and more often. Wheezing can be observed. To relieve suffering, doctors usually recommend oxygen therapy.

Change in urine color and problems with stool

There is a catastrophic lack of water in the body of an elderly person. Water balance broken. Hence, rare trips to the toilet and kidney problems. As a result, the urine becomes concentrated. It darkens and decreases in number.

Constipation is connected to this. It becomes increasingly difficult for a person to go to the toilet without additional stimulation.

Lack of appetite

As mentioned above, metabolic processes slow down. This is reflected in the desire to eat. Or rather, its absence. I feel less and less thirsty. Food is difficult to swallow. To quench your thirst, you can wet your mouth with a damp cloth. But under no circumstances try to force feed. Nothing good will come of this.

Temperature changes

A fairly common sign of approaching death. Thus, during the day, body temperature can vary from too high to critically low.

This is due to disruption of the part of the brain responsible for thermoregulation. Hence, my hands and feet get cold. The skin changes color.

Rubbing your body with a cool or warm towel will help ease the pain. Or, alternatively, you can give one of the following medications:

If the tablets are painful to swallow, purchase them in the form of rectal suppositories.

Uncontrolled emotions

Along with physical changes, mood changes are also quite common. Some people completely withdraw into themselves and avoid communication with loved ones. Others, on the contrary, are immersed in warm and pleasant memories. They are described down to the smallest detail. But ask about recent events and they won't be able to answer you.

There are also those who communicate with dead people.

In some cases, emotional changes reach the point of psychosis.

Swelling of the legs

This symptom is caused by poor kidney function. Instead of removing fluid, they accumulate it in the body. Typically in the leg area.

Venous spots on the body

Venous spots of a red or blue hue appear on the body of a dying person, especially on the feet. This is caused by slow blood circulation.

And in conclusion

No matter how difficult it may be for you, it is even more difficult for an elderly person on the verge of death, in every sense. Pull yourself together! You cannot change what does not depend on you. But you can surround your loved one with care, love and home warmth.

Healthy Aging

If you are dying or caring for someone who is dying, you may have questions about what the dying process will be like physically and emotionally. The following information will help you answer some questions.

Signs of approaching death

The process of dying is as diverse (individual) as the process of birth. It is impossible to predict the exact time of death and how exactly a person will die. But people facing death experience many of the same symptoms, regardless of the type of illness.

As death approaches, a person may experience some physical and emotional changes, such as:

As death approaches, a person sleeps more and it becomes more and more difficult to wake up. Periods of wakefulness are becoming shorter and shorter.

General weakness is a very common occurrence as death approaches. It is normal for a person to need assistance with walking, bathing, and going to the toilet. Over time, you may need help turning over in bed. Medical equipment such as wheelchairs, walkers or a hospital bed can be of great help during this period. This equipment can be rented from a hospital or care center for the terminally ill.

As death approaches, periods of rapid breathing may be followed by periods of breathlessness.

Your breath may become wet and congested. This is called the "death rattle." Changes in breathing usually occur when you are weak and normal secretions from your airways and lungs cannot be released.

Your doctor may prescribe oxygen therapy to relieve your shortness of breath. Oxygen therapy will make you feel better, but will not prolong your life.

Hallucinations are the perception of something that is not actually there. Hallucinations can involve all the senses: hearing, seeing, smelling, tasting or touching.

The most common hallucinations are visual and auditory. For example, a person may hear voices or see objects that another person cannot see.

Other types of hallucinations include gustatory, olfactory and tactile.

Treatment for hallucinations depends on the cause.

As death approaches, you are likely to eat and drink less. This is associated with a general feeling of weakness and a slower metabolism.

As appetite decreases, some changes also occur in the intestines. The stool becomes harder and more difficult to pass (constipation) as the person takes in less fluid and becomes weaker.

As you become increasingly weak, it is natural that you will have difficulty controlling your bladder and bowels. A urinary catheter may be placed in your bladder as a means of long-term urine drainage. The terminally ill program may also provide toilet paper or underwear (they can also be purchased at the pharmacy).

The person caring for you can monitor your temperature by rubbing your skin with a wet, slightly warm washcloth or giving you the following medications:

Many of these medications are available in the form of rectal suppositories if you have difficulty swallowing.

Just as your body prepares physically for death, you must prepare for it emotionally and mentally.

Events from your recent past may be mixed with distant events. You can remember very long ago events in great detail, but not remember what happened an hour ago.

You may be thinking about people who have already died. You may say that you heard or saw someone who has already died. Your loved ones may hear you talking to the deceased person.

If you are caring for a dying person, you may be upset or frightened by this strange behavior. You may want to bring your loved one back to reality. If this kind of communication is bothering you, talk to your doctor to better understand what's going on. Your loved one may fall into a state of psychosis, and this may be scary for you to watch. Psychosis occurs in many people before death. It may have one cause or be the result of several factors. Reasons may include:

Symptoms may include:

Delirium tremens can sometimes be prevented by using alternative medicine, such as relaxation and breathing techniques, and other methods that reduce the need for sedatives.

How often a person feels pain depends on their disease. Some fatal diseases, such as bone cancer or pancreatic cancer, can be accompanied by severe physical pain.

A person may become so afraid of pain and other physical symptoms that they may consider physician-assisted suicide. But the pain before death can be effectively dealt with. You should tell your doctor and loved ones about any pain. There are many medications and alternative methods (such as massage) that can help you cope with the pain of death. Be sure to ask for help. Ask a loved one to tell the doctor about your pain if you are unable to do so yourself.

You may want your family not to see you suffer. But it is very important to tell them about your pain if you cannot bear it so that they see a doctor immediately.

Spirituality means a person's awareness of the purpose and meaning of his life. It also denotes a person's relationship with higher powers or energy that gives meaning to life.

Caring for a dying relative

Often, a person with a terminal illness will consider physician-assisted suicide when their physical or emotional symptoms do not receive effective treatment. Symptoms associated with the dying process (such as pain, depression or nausea) can be controlled. Talk to your doctor and family about your symptoms, especially if your symptoms bother you so much that you think about dying.

Control of pain and symptoms at the end of life

There are many painkillers available. Your doctor will choose the easiest and most atraumatic drug to relieve pain. Oral medications are usually used first because they are easier to take and less expensive. If your pain is not severe, painkillers can be purchased without a doctor's prescription. These include drugs such as acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin or ibuprofen. It is important to stay ahead of your pain and take your medications as scheduled. Irregular use of medications is often the cause of ineffective treatment.

If you cannot take the pills, there are other forms of treatment. If you have trouble swallowing, you can use liquid medications. Medicines can also be in the form of:

Painkillers can be used to manage the pain and help keep it at a tolerable level. But sometimes painkillers make you drowsy. You can only take a small amount of medication and therefore endure little pain and still remain active. On the other hand, perhaps weakness is not a big deal for you and you are not bothered by drowsiness caused by certain medications.

For more detailed information, see the Chronic Pain section.

While you are learning to cope with your illness, short-term emotional distress is normal. Depression that lasts more than 2 weeks is no longer normal and should be reported to your doctor. Depression can be treated even if you have a terminal illness. Antidepressants in combination with counseling from a psychologist will help you cope with emotional distress.

As death approaches, you may experience other symptoms. Talk to your doctor about any symptoms you may experience. Symptoms such as nausea, fatigue, constipation or shortness of breath can be managed with medications, special diets and oxygen therapy. Have a friend or family member describe your symptoms to a doctor or emergency services worker. It can be helpful to keep a journal and write down all your symptoms.

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Death can be different, sometimes it is sudden in the midst of complete well-being, such death is usually sudden, bright and tragic, but there is another death, this is death that quietly creeps up and, as if humbly waiting at the head of its moment, is the death of seriously decrepit old men and women, such a death is of little interest and much less has been written about her than about her first friend.

Sooner or later, we will all have to face death, sometimes we have to face death not in the intensive care unit, which is burning around the clock, but at home, with our family, of course, this is in any case a very difficult event, but you should not completely lose your head, reveling in your experiences , but on the contrary, you should make the last days and hours of your loved one as comfortable as possible, how to recognize the signs that the end is near and help the dying person in these last difficult stages of his journey.

No one can predict when death will occur, but people on duty, often encounter people spending their last days in this world, are well aware of the symptoms of approaching death, the symptoms of the fact that there are only a few days and hours left of a human being.

Loss of appetite

In a gradually fading person, energy needs decrease more and more over time, the person begins to refuse food and drink, or take only small amounts of neutral simple food (for example, porridge). Coarser foods are usually abandoned first. Even once-favorite dishes do not bring the same pleasure. Just before death, some people are simply unable to swallow food.

What to do: do not try to force feed a person, listen to the wishes of the dying person, even if you are deeply upset by his refusal to eat. Periodically offer the dying person pieces of ice, fruit ice, sips of water. Wipe with a soft, damp cloth warm water lips and skin around the mouth, treat your lips with hygienic lipstick so that your lips do not dry out, but remain moist and elastic.

Increased fatigue and drowsiness

The dying person can spend most of the day sleeping, since the metabolism fades, and the reduced needs for water and food contribute to dehydration; the dying person wakes up more difficult; weakness reaches such a degree that the person perceives everything around him completely passively.

What to do: let the dying person sleep, do not force him to stay awake, do not disturb him, everything you say he can hear, it is assumed that hearing is preserved even if the person is unconscious, in a coma or other forms of impaired consciousness.

Severe physical exhaustion

A decreasing metabolism produces less and less energy, there is so little of it left that it becomes very difficult for a dying person not only to turn over in bed, but even to turn his head; even taking a sip of liquid through a straw can cause great difficulties for the patient.

What to do: Try to maintain a comfortable position for the patient and assist him if necessary.

Confusion or disorientation

The functional failure of many organs increases, not bypassing the brain, consciousness begins to change, usually, at one speed or another, its depression sets in, the dying person may cease to be aware of where he or she is, who surrounds him, may speak or respond less readily, may communicate with people who are not or cannot be in the room, may speak nonsense, confuse the time, day, year, may lie motionless on the bed, or may become restless and fidget with the bed linen.

What to do: remain calm yourself and try to calm the dying person, speak softly to the person and let him know who is currently at his bedside or when you approach him.

Difficulty breathing, shortness of breath

Respiratory movements become erratic, jerky, a person may experience difficulty breathing, so-called pathological types of breathing may be observed, for example, Cheyne-Stokes breathing - a period of increasing loud respiratory movements followed by decreasing depth, after which a pause (apnea) occurs, lasting from five seconds to minutes, followed by another period of deep, loud, increasing breathing movements. Sometimes excess fluid in the airways creates a loud bubbling sound during breathing movements, sometimes called the "death rattle."

What to do: Prolonged apnea (pause between breathing movements) or loud bubbling sounds can be alarming, however, the dying person may not even be aware of this type of change, focus on ensuring overall comfort, changing positions, for example, placing a back and head under the another pillow, you can give him an elevated position or slightly turn his head to the side, moisten his lips with a damp cloth and treat his lips with chapstick. If a large amount of sputum is released, try to facilitate its removal through the mouth naturally, because artificial suction can only increase its separation, a humidifier in the room can help, in some cases oxygen is prescribed, in any case, remain calm, try to calm the dying person .

Social alienation

As irreversible changes gradually increase in the body, the dying person gradually begins to lose interest in the people around him, the dying person may stop communicating completely, mutter nonsense, stop answering questions, or simply turn away.
A few days before completely plunging into oblivion, the dying person may surprise his relatives with an unusual surge of mental activity, again begin to recognize those present, communicate with them, respond to speech addressed to him; this period can last less than an hour, and sometimes even a day .

What to do: in any case, remember that all these are natural manifestations of the dying process and are not at all a reflection of your relationship, maintain physical contact with the dying person, touch, continue to communicate with him if appropriate, and try not to expect any answer from him instead, cherish the episodes of sudden clarity when they happen, as they are almost always fleeting.

Changed urination pattern

The dying person's need for food and fluids decreases, blood pressure- part of the dying process (which, due to the latter, does not necessarily need correction to a normal level, like some other symptoms), urine becomes scarce, it becomes concentrated - a rich brownish, reddish, or tea-colored color.
Control over natural functions may subsequently be completely lost during the dying process.

What to do: As directed by medical personnel, a urinary catheter may be inserted to monitor urine flow and facilitate its removal, although this is usually not necessary in the final hours. The onset of kidney failure leads to the accumulation of “toxins” in the circulating blood and contributes to a peaceful coma before death occurs. And, simply, lay down fresh film.

Swelling of the hands and feet

Progressive renal failure leads to the accumulation of fluid in the body, it usually accumulates in tissues located away from the heart, that is, usually in the fatty tissue of the hands and, especially, feet, this gives them a somewhat puffy, swollen appearance.

What to do: usually this no longer requires special measures (prescribing diuretics) since they are part of the dying process, and not its cause.

Coldness in the tips of the fingers and toes

In the hours to minutes before death, peripheral blood vessels narrow in an attempt to maintain blood circulation in vital organs - the heart and brain, with a progressive decrease in blood pressure. With spasm of peripheral blood vessels, the extremities (fingers and toes, as well as the hands and feet themselves) become noticeably colder, and the nail beds become pale or bluish.

What to do: At this stage the dying person may already be unconscious, otherwise a warm blanket may help support comfortable conditions, the person may complain about the weight of the blanket covering their legs, so free them as much as possible.

Skin spots

On the skin, which was previously uniformly pale, clearly visible variegation and spots of a purple, reddish, or bluish tint appear - one of the final signs of imminent death - the result of circulatory disorders in the microvasculature (venules, arterioles, capillaries), often such spotting is first detected on the feet.

What to do: no special actions need to be taken.

The described symptoms are the most common signs of approaching natural death; they can vary in the order of occurrence and be observed in different combinations in different people, when the patient is in the intensive care unit, under artificial ventilation, and in a multicomponent intensive drug therapy process. dying can be completely different, here in general outline the process of natural death is described.

Signs and beliefs

Someone in the house could die if a bird flies into it. It is popularly believed that the souls of the dead are incarnated in birds, hence the belief that the soul of a relative has flown in to warn that a misfortune will soon occur in the house. At the same time, there is another belief: a bird (sometimes specified as a dove) flying into a girl’s room is a sign of an imminent wedding (for when a girl gets married, she dies in her clan, in order to then be reborn as a wife in her husband’s clan).
If a dying person shudders for no reason, it means that he will soon die - death has looked into his eyes.
If a patient’s nose becomes sharp and cold, then his days are numbered. People say that his death holds him by the nose.
If a patient gathers the sheets into a fist, this is also a bad sign, foreshadowing an imminent death.
You cannot put a pillow on the table - this will lead to the sudden death of someone living in the house. During a funeral, a washed deceased person is placed on the table (it is better, of course, to place the dead body on a bench - as was done in ancient times). A pillow is placed under his head. So the relationship in this case is direct, and the belief is based on the law of similarities. The everyday meaning is that the table cannot be used for other purposes.
A man who has been struck down by a fatal illness lies in bed, turning away from sunlight- to early death.
If the patient suddenly becomes much better and asks to be turned on his right side, this also means that he will soon pass into another world.
Death overtook a person at the moment of sunset - soon someone else will die.
If two people die in a house, yard, or relatives, the death of a third will follow.
If you dreamed that a tooth fell out, it meant the death of a loved one; if a tooth falls out with blood, he will die blood relative. The sign is based on ancient ideas about the connection of teeth with family members, and blood with consanguinity. A similar sign is associated with a dream of a scattered broom.
I dreamed that you were sweeping dirty linen in public - to a dead person in the house. As you know, rubbish, rubbish (that is, everything that has become obsolete) in the popular consciousness is associated with the souls of the dead and also with the concept of one’s integrity, home peace, from which some part is taken away during sweeping. It is especially not advisable to sweep garbage directly into the yard (outside) through the threshold. Hence the figurative meaning: “Don’t wash dirty linen in public,” that is, don’t chat about what’s happening in the family, don’t make it public knowledge.
I dreamed of a log taken out of the wall - to a dead person. The roots of the sign go back to the times when the dead were taken out of the house not through the door, but through a window or even through a hole specially cut in the wall, which was then sealed so that the soul of the deceased could calmly leave for another world, without being attracted by the road back. Since then, the custom has been preserved of carrying the deceased out of the house feet first - so that he knows where he is being taken, but does not remember where from. At the same time, a removed log, like a fallen tooth, means the removal of someone from the family.
In an old house, cutting down new windows is a sign for the deceased. The explanation of this belief is exactly the same as with the removed log: since in the old days the coffin was carried out through a window, cutting a new window means preparing to remove the coffin. From a domestic point of view, it is indeed dangerous to cut a new window in an old house: you can move the load-bearing logs and cause a collapse or distortion of the ceiling.
I saw freshly dug earth or a hole in the ground and fresh boards in a dream - you will soon bury someone. This sign is based on the law of similarities: a hole is a grave dug in the ground; boards - a coffin made from fresh boards. Since this explanation of the dream corresponds to life impressions, it has been preserved to this day.
Leaving an unsown strip on a field in the spring is a sign for the deceased. Since poor farmers tried to use every piece of land, because there were many mouths in the family, not to sow a strip meant leaving one mouth without bread, that is, dooming someone to starvation. In an everyday sense, the belief demanded the most attentive attitude to the land under the threat of the death of one of the loved ones.
Seeing a falling star means the imminent death of yourself or a loved one. Since ancient times, people believed that at the birth of a baby a star lights up in the sky and shines as long as the person is alive, and with his death it falls and goes out.
Mice chew clothes - to the death of the owner of the clothes. The superficial meaning of the sign is this: since the clothes have been chewed, the person will no longer need them; perhaps this is a sign that he will die soon. But this belief also contains a deeper meaning: just as a person’s body puts on clothes, so his soul puts on a body. Thus, clothing damaged by a mouse figuratively means a fleshly body, through the holes in which the soul emanating from it is already visible.
A dog howls at the ground - for a dead person, at the sky - for a fire. The dog is the guardian of the house, and it senses the approach of misfortune even before it happens. In general, all animals, to one degree or another, anticipate death in advance (at least when we are talking about natural, natural death, and not about violent, sudden death). This is due to their ability to see and sense the bellies of natural forces, as well as their developed sense of smell. Human body a short time before death, he behaves differently: his vitality decreases, his metabolism slows down, his smell changes, etc. Many doctors and those who, on duty, observed sick and dying people, themselves learned to almost accurately determine whether a person will live or not. Animals are capable of this from birth.
The coffin is larger than the deceased - to another deceased. Since the coffin is considered a home for the deceased, the extra space in it has since ancient times suggested its purpose for another person.
A woodpecker is hammering a hut - someone in the family will die. Previously, the coffin was hollowed out from a single large trunk or log. From here, purely external sign, and a sign: a woodpecker is hollowing out a house. However, there is another interpretation. As you know, a woodpecker does not hammer a living tree, but a dead one in which wood-boring beetles have infested. According to Slavic beliefs, a house is a living being; if a woodpecker begins to chisel the wall of a house, it means the house has “died,” and after it, perhaps its owner (or someone from his family) will die.
Not often, but it happens that a person thinks about his future death and prepares a coffin for himself in advance. Such a product is usually stored in attics. But here there is a small but very significant “but”: the coffin is empty, and since it is made according to a person’s standards, he begins to “pull” it into himself. And a person, as a rule, dies faster. Previously, to prevent this from happening, in empty coffin poured sawdust, shavings, and grain. After the death of a person, sawdust, shavings, and grain were also buried in the hole. After all, if you feed a bird with such grain, it will become sick.
Funeral in New Year- a very bad omen: in the coming year there will be a funeral at least once a month.
Sunday's funeral predicts three more funerals throughout the week.
It is dangerous to postpone a funeral for any reason. Then one, two or three deaths in the family or immediate area will occur within a week or a month.
If the funeral is postponed until next week, it is probably unlucky, because the dead person will try his best to take someone with him.
The dead man looks with one eye - looking for a companion. When the dead person's eyes are closed, you need to be careful and make sure that both eyes are completely closed. If one eye remains even slightly open, then the one on whom the gaze falls will follow. To be sure, copper coins are placed on the eyes.
If a girl dies, they dress her in all her wedding clothes. A woman’s direct destiny is to become a wife and mother. If the girl died in at a young age and before she has time to get married, she becomes the bride of God. And she must appear before him in a wedding dress. That's why young girls are buried in a wedding dress.
When you see a dead person in a coffin, do not automatically touch your body with your hands. This is due to the fact that in the place where you touched your hand, various skin growths in the form of a tumor can grow.
As soon as the coffin is taken out of the house, you should immediately close the doors tightly, otherwise someone else in this family may soon die.
You cannot hammer the coffin lid in the house - this foreshadows another funeral soon.
Do not give the deceased your photographs or photographs of loved ones on their last journey (otherwise they will get sick), do not give your things, pectoral crosses. You can put things of already deceased people in the coffin.

Cancer is very serious disease, which is characterized by the appearance of a tumor in the human body that grows rapidly and damages nearby human tissues. Later, the malignant tumor affects the nearest lymph nodes, and at the last stage metastases occur, when cancer cells spread to all organs of the body.

The terrible thing is that at stages 3 and 4, cancer treatment for some types of oncology is impossible. Because of this, the doctor can reduce the patient’s suffering and slightly prolong his life. At the same time, he is getting worse every day due to the rapid spread of metastases.

At this time, the patient's relatives and friends should roughly understand exactly what symptoms the patient is experiencing in order to help survive the last stage of life and reduce his suffering. In general, those dying from cancer due to complete damage by metastases experience the same pain and ailments. How do people die from cancer?

Why do people die from cancer?

Cancer occurs in several stages, and each stage is characterized by more severe symptoms and damage to the body by the tumor. In fact, not everyone dies from cancer, and it all depends on at what stage the tumor was discovered. And here everything is clear - the earlier it was found and diagnosed, the greater the chances of recovery.

But there are still many factors, and even stage 1 or even stage 2 cancer does not always provide a 100% chance of recovery. Since cancer has many properties. For example, there is such a thing as the aggressiveness of malignant tissues - the higher this indicator, the faster the tumor itself grows, and the faster the stages of cancer occur.

The mortality rate increases with each stage of cancer development. The largest percentage is at stage 4 - but why? At this stage cancer tumor It is already enormous in size and affects nearby tissues, lymph nodes and organs, and metastases spread to distant corners of the body: as a result, almost all tissues of the body are affected.

At the same time, the tumor grows faster and becomes more aggressive. The only thing doctors can do is reduce the growth rate and reduce the suffering of the patient himself. Usually chemotherapy and radiation are used, then the cancer cells become less aggressive.

Death with any type of cancer does not always occur quickly, and it happens that the patient suffers for a long time, which is why it is necessary to reduce the patient’s suffering as much as possible. Medicine cannot yet fight terminal cancer neglected form, so the earlier the diagnosis is made, the better.

Causes of the disease

Unfortunately, scientists are still struggling with this question and cannot find an exact answer to it. The only thing that can be said is that there are a combination of factors that increase the chance of getting cancer:

Alcohol and smoking.
Junk food.
Obesity.
Bad ecology.
Working with chemicals.
Incorrect drug treatment.

In order to at least somehow try to avoid cancer, you must first monitor your health and undergo regular examinations with a doctor and take a general and biochemical analysis blood.

Symptoms before death

That is why the correct treatment tactics, chosen at the last stage of the disease, will help reduce pain and illness for the patient, as well as significantly prolong life. Of course, each oncology has its own signs and symptoms, but there are also common ones, which begin immediately at the fourth stage, when almost the entire body is affected by malignant formations. How do cancer patients feel before death?

Constant fatigue. Occurs due to the fact that the tumor itself takes a huge amount of energy and nutrients for growth, and the larger it is, the worse. Let's add metastases to other organs here, and you will understand how difficult it is for patients in the last stage. The condition usually worsens after surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. At the very end, cancer patients will sleep a lot. The most important thing is not to disturb them and let them rest. Subsequently, deep sleep can develop into a coma.
Appetite decreases. The patient does not eat because general intoxication occurs when the tumor produces a large amount of waste products into the blood.
Cough and difficulty breathing. Often, metastases from any organ cancer damage the lungs, causing swelling of the upper body and coughing. After some time, it becomes difficult for the patient to breathe - this means that the cancer has firmly settled in the lung.
Disorientation. At this moment, there may be memory loss, the person ceases to recognize friends and relatives. This happens due to metabolic disorders with brain tissue. Plus, there is severe intoxication. Hallucinations may occur.
Blue discoloration of extremities. When the patient’s strength becomes low and the body tries with all its might to stay afloat, the blood mainly begins to flow to the vital organs: heart, kidneys, liver, brain, etc. At this moment, the limbs become cold and acquire a bluish, pale tint. This is one of the most important harbingers of death.
Spots on the body. Before death, spots appear on the legs and arms due to poor circulation. This moment accompanies the approach of death. After death, the spots become bluish.
Muscle weakness. Then the patient cannot move and walk normally, some can still move slightly but slowly to the toilet. But the majority of them lie down and move around.
Coma state. It may come suddenly, then the patient will need a nurse who will help, wash and do everything that the patient cannot do in such a condition.

The dying processand main stages

Predagonia. Central nervous system disorder. The patient himself does not feel any emotions. The skin on the legs and arms turns blue, and the face becomes earth-colored. The pressure drops sharply.
Agony. Due to the fact that the tumor has already spread everywhere, oxygen starvation, heart rate slows down. After some time, breathing stops, and the blood circulation process slows down greatly.
Clinical death. All functions are suspended, both the heart and breathing.
Biological death. The main sign of biological death is brain death.

Of course, some cancers may have characteristic features, we told you exactly about the general picture of death from cancer.

Symptoms of brain cancer before death

Brain tissue cancer is difficult to diagnose initial stages. It doesn’t even have its own tumor markers, which can be used to determine the disease itself. Before death, the patient feels severe pain in a certain place of the head, he may see hallucinations, memory loss occurs, he may not recognize his family and friends.

Constant change of mood from calm to irritated. Speech is impaired and the patient may utter all sorts of nonsense. The patient may lose vision or hearing. In the end, motor function is impaired.

Last stage of lung cancer

Develops initially without any symptoms. IN Lately Oncology has become the most common among all. The problem is precisely the late detection and diagnosis of cancer, which is why the tumor is discovered at stage 3 or even stage 4, when it is no longer possible to cure the disease.

All symptoms before death of stage 4 lung cancer relate directly to breathing and bronchi. Usually the patient has difficulty breathing, he constantly gasps for air, he coughs violently with heavy discharge. At the very end, an epileptic seizure may begin, which will lead to death. Terminal stage lung cancer is very nasty and painful for the patient.

Liver cancer

When a liver tumor is affected, it grows very quickly and damages the internal tissues of the organ. The result is jaundice. The patient feels severe pain, the temperature rises, the patient feels sick and vomits, and there is difficulty urinating (the urine may contain blood).

Before death, doctors try to reduce the suffering of the patient himself with medications. Death from liver cancer is very difficult and painful with a lot of internal bleeding.

Bowel cancer

One of the most unpleasant and most difficult oncological diseases, which is very difficult at stage 4, especially if a little earlier an operation was performed to remove part of the intestine. The patient feels severe pain in the abdomen, headache, nausea and vomiting. This is due to severe intoxication from the tumor and retained feces.

The patient cannot go to the toilet normally. Since at the last stage there is also defeat Bladder and liver, as well as kidneys. The patient dies very quickly from poisoning with internal toxins.

Esophageal carcinoma

The cancer itself affects the esophagus, and late stages the patient can no longer eat normally and eats only through a tube. The tumor affects not only the organ itself, but also nearby tissues. Metastasis spreads to the intestines and lungs, so pain will appear throughout the chest and abdomen. Before death, the tumor may cause bleeding, causing the patient to vomit blood.

Laryngeal cancer before death

A very painful disease when the tumor affects all nearby organs. He feels severe pain and cannot breathe normally. Usually, if the tumor itself completely blocks the passage, the patient breathes through a special tube. Metastases spread to the lungs and nearby organs. Doctors prescribe large amounts of painkillers at the end.

Last days

Usually, if the patient wishes, the patient’s relatives can take him home, and he is prescribed and given strong drugs and painkillers that help reduce pain.

At this moment, you need to understand that the patient has very little time left and you need to try to reduce his suffering. At the very end, additional symptoms may appear: vomiting blood, intestinal obstruction, severe pain in the abdomen and chest, coughing up blood and shortness of breath.

At the very end, when almost every organ is affected by cancer metastases, it is better to leave the patient alone and let him sleep. The most important thing is that at this moment there are relatives, loved ones, close people next to the patients, who will reduce pain and suffering by their presence.

How to alleviate the suffering of a dying person?

Often the patient's pain can be so severe that conventional medications do not help. Improvement can only come from narcotic substances, which are given by doctors for cancer diseases. True, this leads to even greater intoxication and quick death for the patient.

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