This is what people who are about to die smell like, according to experts
Death, in addition to being a natural process, involves a series of physiological changes in the body that can be perceived in different ways. One of the lesser-known but most striking aspects is the body odor that can occur in a person who is near death. Although the subject may seem uncomfortable, specialists in palliative care and forensic medicine have studied this phenomenon to better understand what happens in the final stages of life.
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When the body begins to shut down, various systems progressively begin to fail. The liver and kidneys, for example, decrease their ability to eliminate toxins, causing a buildup of substances in the blood. This widespread deterioration affects not only organ function, but also the skin, breath, and body fluids.
According to medical staff working in palliative care units, one of the most noticeable physical signs in the final stages of life is a peculiar, penetrating odor emitted by the body. This is not a strong odor like that associated with decomposition, but rather a metallic, sweet, or even slightly acidic fragrance, which is associated with the accumulation of internal chemicals.
What is this smell due to?Specialists indicate that the smell can have several causes:
- Organ failure: When the liver or kidneys fail, toxins that are normally eliminated begin to accumulate. This can cause breath that smells like ammonia or rotten fruit, similar to that experienced by some patients with advanced liver disease.
- Skin changes: In some cases, the skin acquires a different odor due to poor oxygenation or infections that appear when the immune system weakens.
- Dehydration and reduced blood flow: Circulation decreases in the extremities and other areas of the body, which also influences body odor.
- Ketone buildup: In people with chronic illnesses or who stop eating, the body may release ketones that produce a sweet, fruity odor, similar to that found in patients with diabetic ketoacidosis.
British palliative care specialist Dr. Kathryn Mannix has explained in several interviews and books that "death is a natural and predictable process, and the body gives clear signals, including through the sense of smell . " Although not everyone smells the same, it is common for those in the terminal stage to have a distinct body odor, which is noticeable to those around them.
Similarly, Spanish forensic expert Francisco Etxeberria has mentioned that odors are one of the first signs that a body is undergoing irreversible internal changes, although he clarifies that this odor is more evident in advanced stages or after death, when decomposition begins.
Is it perceptible to everyone?Not necessarily. Often, only experienced medical personnel or caregivers are able to detect that particular scent. Families or close friends, being emotionally involved, may not notice it or simply attribute it to other factors such as medications, sweat, or changes in the patient's daily hygiene.
The smell of a dying person is neither a myth nor an exaggeration. It is a real phenomenon, derived from the biochemical processes that occur in the body as it declines. Although there is no "universal smell" that indicates the imminence of death, many professionals agree that it exists. a perceptible change that can be interpreted as another sign of the final cycle of life.
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