From the medical examiner's or death investigator's prospective, sudden (natural) death is generally viewed in a much broader sense and includes all deaths in which an adequate diagnosis of a lethal medical disease has not been reached before death, regardless of the duration of the illness.
Sudden deaths resulting from infectious causes involving the cardiovascular system are commonly reported due to myocarditis and infective endocarditis while sudden deaths involving the respiratory system are mostly due to pneumonia and tuberculosis.
The five causes of sudden death discussed in this article are: fatal arrhythmias, acute myocardial infarction, intracranial hemorrhage/massive stroke (cerebrovascular accident), massive pulmonary embolism and acute aortic catastrophe.
Natural Deaths
Natural is defined as death caused solely by disease or natural process. If natural death is hastened by injury (such as a fall or drowning in a bathtub), the manner of death is not considered natural.
Death from natural causes might be a heart attack, stroke, cancer, infection, or any other illness. By contrast, death caused by active intervention is known as unnatural death.
But why most death occurs between 3 am to 4 am in early morning. There is no certain time for death and that can come at any time. Yet, some reports say most death occurs during night while the time span between 3 am to 4 am is the most vulnerable.
The manner of death is the sequence of circumstances that brought about a person's death. Natural: A natural death is caused by either old age or from an illness or disease. Accident: When the fatal outcome was involuntary and there is no sign of the intent to harm.
Cardiovascular diseases
These include hypertension (high blood pressure); coronary heart disease (heart attack); cerebrovascular disease (stroke); heart failure; and other heart diseases. Cardiovascular disease is the top cause of death globally.
An autopsy usually takes 2-3 hours to perform and is often followed by laboratory tests. In general, the autopsy will not disfigure the body and it will be perfectly suitable for funeral viewing.
They Know They're Dying
Dying is a natural process that the body has to work at. Just as a woman in labor knows a baby is coming, a dying person may instinctively know death is near. Even if your loved one doesn't discuss their death, they most likely know it is coming.
Is sudden cardiac death painful? Some people have chest pain during the initial seconds of sudden cardiac arrest. However, once you lose consciousness, you don't feel pain.
The most overwhelming and common reaction to a sudden death is shock and uncertainty. This results in feeling disconnected to your feelings or to other people; it can seem as if you are living in a dream. The initial news and stages of grief are often characterized by disbelief.
Sudden unexpected natural death (SUND) has several characteristics, such as unknown clinical history, very short course to death, evidence of trauma, interference of postmortem changes and social implications of diagnosis.
Injuries and violence affect everyone, regardless of age, race, or economic status.
Rigor Mortis
The cessation of oxygen supply causes the stoppage of aerobic respiration in the cells and leads to a lack of ATP production. Rigor mortis starts immediately after death and is usually seen in a sequence known as the "march of rigor" and Nysten's Law.
While larger animals like sharks or hippos may seem a likely culprit, the animal that kills the most humans per year is actually the mosquito.
Your heart stops beating. Your brain stops. Other vital organs, including your kidneys and liver, stop. All your body systems powered by these organs shut down, too, so that they're no longer capable of carrying on the ongoing processes understood as, simply, living.
The American Institute of Stress reports 120,000 people die every year as a direct result of work-related stress. Additionally, healthcare costs resulting from work-related stress totals an average of $190 billion a year.
To “die of old age” means that someone has died naturally from an ailment associated with aging. The same usually goes for “dying of natural causes.” Traditionally, government health authorities have required resident's causes of death to be listed on death certificates.
Immediate changes after death relate to the 'somatic death' or 'systemic death. ' Somatic death deals with the irreversible cessation of the vital functions of the brain, heart, and lungs.
People can die from natural causes such as disease or illness, or unnatural causes like accidents or homicide.
Visions and Hallucinations
Visual or auditory hallucinations are often part of the dying experience. The appearance of family members or loved ones who have died is common. These visions are considered normal. The dying may turn their focus to “another world” and talk to people or see things that others do not see.
What Is the Burst of Energy Before Death Called? This burst of energy before death is also known as “terminal lucidity” or “rallying.” Although there is considerable, general interest in this phenomenon, unfortunately, there hasn't been a lot of scientific research done on the matter.
Sudden nocturnal death, while relatively uncommon, can occur as a result of a variety of factors, including stroke, seizure, sedative overdose, and, most frequently, sudden cardiac arrest, physicians say.