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

No you don’t.

We often reset the heart in ED using medication or electric shocks if people have SVT – basically a super fast heart beat.

When taking the injection the heart stops for a couple of seconds – sometimes more – and when it restarts it often goes back to normal.

People do not go unconscious during the effects of the injection but they will always feel absolutely awful until the heart starts again.

So no. We do not go unconscious as soon as our heart stops.

We will go unconscious as soon as there isn’t enough oxygen in the brain.