Do you go unconscious and die instantly the second your heart stops? If so, what causes that to happen instead of taking a little while for your brain to actually “turn off” from the lack of oxygen?

Question

Like if you get shot in the head, your death is obviously instantaneous (in most cases) because your brain is literally gone. Does that mean that after getting shot directly in your heart, you would still be conscious for a little while until your brain stops due to the inability to get fresh blood/oxygen to it?

In: Biology

Answer 1

I can actually chime in on this. I had a cardiac arrest in 2018 and was rescued by a passer by. I dropped because my heart stop, but I started Agonal breathing. Your brain stem senses the lack of blood and sends out pulses I believe. My savior did CPR for 18 minutes and then I was shocked in the ambulance.