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

It takes around 6-12 second of no heart beat before you black out (depends a bit on how good your body can handle changes in blood pressure). Your brain needs a certain blood pressure to be conscious and your heart beating Is what makes that blood pressure.

So yeah, you may be conscious for a few seconds while your heart is stopped before you blackout and then die if it doesn’t restart (or get cpr) within a few minutes.

It’s pretty haunting to watch.

Here’s to dying in your sleep.