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I Read That People Are Unconscious A Few Days Before

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Posted on Fri, 21 Feb 2020
Question: I read that people are unconscious a few days before they die and they have abnormal breathing patterns. Does everybody suffer from Cheyne-Stokes respiration before they die? And is that person even aware that they are breathing like that? When I went to the dentist and they gave me drugs to go to sleep, I don’t remember being aware of how I was breathing or feel any pain, I just woke up later and was confused but one time when I was sleep I held my breathe and I could feel my chest hurt a little before I woke up gasping for air.
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Answered by Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (40 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
No.

Detailed Answer:
People who are shot, car accidents, explosions, jumping off buildings... no Cheyne Stokes. So, obviously, not everyone has that breathing pattern.

It occurs when most of the brain is dead except the bit at the bottom that controls breathing.
There is a very very slight relationship between that and your situation.

If the brain is working, then, it is very hard to hold your breath to a serious amount. When you try it, the respiratory muscles are triggered to involuntarily start to try to bring breath in. The muscles of the chest strain. Therefore, chest pain.

Regards

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
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Answered by
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Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman

Addiction Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1985

Answered : 4214 Questions

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I Read That People Are Unconscious A Few Days Before

Brief Answer: No. Detailed Answer: People who are shot, car accidents, explosions, jumping off buildings... no Cheyne Stokes. So, obviously, not everyone has that breathing pattern. It occurs when most of the brain is dead except the bit at the bottom that controls breathing. There is a very very slight relationship between that and your situation. If the brain is working, then, it is very hard to hold your breath to a serious amount. When you try it, the respiratory muscles are triggered to involuntarily start to try to bring breath in. The muscles of the chest strain. Therefore, chest pain. Regards