What happens after death? US nurse’s viral video explains step-by-step
death, Julie McFadden, a hospice nurse in the US, explained the physical changes that occur in the human body after death. McFadden, who transitioned to hospice care after years in intensive care, has built a following by addressing common questions about dying, intending to remove fear and stigma associated with death. Her viral video, which has garnered over 590,000 views, describes the initial changes that occur as a body begins to decompose.
Body Relaxes
According to McFadden, one of the first things that happens post-mortem is that the body undergoes a process called hypostasis, during which it naturally «relaxes.» She explained, “What happens to your body immediately after it dies? It relaxes, just like I've been saying. This is why some people might urinate, have bowel movements, or even experience fluids coming from their nose, eyes, or ears. Essentially, all the muscles and systems that typically contain bodily fluids relax. That's why death can get a little messy.”
Temperature Drop and Blood Pooling
The nurse went on to explain that body temperature decreases as part of a cooling process known as algor mortis. The timing varies, she said, depending on individual differences and environmental factors, but on average, body temperature falls by 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit per hour until it reaches the temperature of the surrounding environment. McFadden explained, “Some people take a while, maybe an hour, perhaps an hour and a half. It just depends, but their body temperature will drop.”
In addition to cooling,
