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Does It Pain When The Heart Stops Beating?
Question: my father was in a nursing home for 3 months he had a heart attack and passed away in the nursing home just wondering if he passed away peaceful when he heart stop beating would he have felt anything pain etc i stress about this and i worry about my death will i suffer pain when i pass i wonder if he ws in the nursing home would they have given he morphine or something
Brief Answer:
Dying is not easy
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Although reports about patients' discomfort just before dying are missing for obvious reasons, it is evident that in most cases there is some suffering. What's very common is breathlessness caused by various conditions.
A heart attack can bring a very fast death when it's severe. I can't possibly know what happened to your father but he died within moments then his suffering should have been minimal.
In terminal patients (for example patients with cancer) morphine administration is common to reduce discomfort, although it may actually worsen the lung functionality.
Obviously nobody can predict one's own death and nobody will ever know until the times comes but some suffering should be expected.
I hope I've helped.
If you'd like clarifications, please let me know.
Kind Regards!
Dying is not easy
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Although reports about patients' discomfort just before dying are missing for obvious reasons, it is evident that in most cases there is some suffering. What's very common is breathlessness caused by various conditions.
A heart attack can bring a very fast death when it's severe. I can't possibly know what happened to your father but he died within moments then his suffering should have been minimal.
In terminal patients (for example patients with cancer) morphine administration is common to reduce discomfort, although it may actually worsen the lung functionality.
Obviously nobody can predict one's own death and nobody will ever know until the times comes but some suffering should be expected.
I hope I've helped.
If you'd like clarifications, please let me know.
Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
yes i guess you can't tell when someone dies that they will suffer pain,i hope dad didn't suffer and departed quickly and peaceful i am very stress about him i guess i am grieving losing him still
Brief Answer:
He probably left fast and peacefully
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
sudden death by a heart attack (by an arrhythmia) is probably the fastest way to die, so it has to be the most peaceful. A heart attack that lasts for long (when the patient dies from heart failure but not right away) involves likely more suffering.
Your feelings are absolutely normal and justified. But please don't worry about that because it's more likely that your father had the sudden death scenario. Heart attack victims usually die within the first hour after the attack.
Kind Regards!
He probably left fast and peacefully
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
sudden death by a heart attack (by an arrhythmia) is probably the fastest way to die, so it has to be the most peaceful. A heart attack that lasts for long (when the patient dies from heart failure but not right away) involves likely more suffering.
Your feelings are absolutely normal and justified. But please don't worry about that because it's more likely that your father had the sudden death scenario. Heart attack victims usually die within the first hour after the attack.
Kind Regards!
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
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