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

You pass out pretty quick but the death part is not necessarily as instantaneous as you might think. Your body actually has several minutes worth of oxygen stored up (which is why a few minutes of hands-only or compression-only CPR done before rescuers with equipment arrive actually helps)