# Least Painful 'Natural' Way to Die. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 3, 2013, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-painful-natural-way-to-die/654722 "2013-04-03T12:06:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-painful-natural-way-to-die/654722/41 "2013-04-04T22:15:51Z")
> [@LawMonkey](#): > > You can do better than that for anoxia–step into an environment filled entirely with some gas that’s neither CO2 nor O2. . That was my bet too, but I assume this isn’t a “natural death” as defined by the OP. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2013, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-painful-natural-way-to-die/654722/42 "2013-04-05T00:46:04Z")
> [@outlierrn](#): > > Well, me too, especially in my sleep. But it’s worth noting that in the old man’s friend days they didn’t prolong the event with bronchodilators, steroids, supplemental oxygen and antibiotics, plus they were probably comparing it to some nasty events that we don’t worry about so much anymore. Hey, I provide hospice care, so see patients dying of pneumonia without the benefits of those things. If you don’t have opioids on board (and some patients don’t want them), it’s often no picnic. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2013, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-painful-natural-way-to-die/654722/43 "2013-04-05T00:47:04Z")
One of my CO2 lines was leaking in the freezer box my son keeps all his kegs in, I stuck my head own to look at the fitting and got a lung full of co2, it burned very bad and I momentarily passed out a few minutes later for some reason. ---
**Author:** ![Battle\_Pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Battle\_Pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Battle_Pope)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2013, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-painful-natural-way-to-die/654722/44 "2013-04-05T02:04:40Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > I heard that sucide is painless and that it brings on many changes. I can take or leave it. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2013, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-painful-natural-way-to-die/654722/45 "2013-04-05T11:54:33Z")
Bleeding to death, in and of itself, [from what I’ve heard](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=6216), actually isn’t too bad—a drowsy, “peaceful” sort of feeling. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2013, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-painful-natural-way-to-die/654722/46 "2013-04-05T12:15:18Z")
> [@Battle\_Pope](#): > > I can take or leave it. If you please. ---
**Author:** ![eightysix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecccb3/32.png) [@eightysix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eightysix)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2013, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-painful-natural-way-to-die/654722/47 "2013-04-05T12:31:11Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Any heart rhythm disturbance that suddenly causes your blood pressure to fall to zero (ventricular tachycardia without a pulse, ventricular fibrillation, asystole) would be pretty painless. Here one moment, gone the next. I agree with this. While I have never spoken to anyone who died this way, I have spoken to people who witnessed someone die this way, and that’s pretty much the description. About as close to “drop dead” as you can get. Of course, it’s not usually as stress free for the witnesses as it is for the dier. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2013, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-painful-natural-way-to-die/654722/48 "2013-04-05T13:03:14Z")
> [@eightysix](#): > > I agree with this. While I have never spoken to anyone who died this way, I have spoken to people who witnessed someone die this way, and that’s pretty much the description. About as close to “drop dead” as you can get. Of course, it’s not usually as stress free for the witnesses as it is for the dier. And I’ve talked to folks who became ‘pulseless non-breathers’ via ventricular fibrillation, who were defibrillated successfully and returned to normal function. They described the process as not unlike someone turning off a switch; i.e. blankness. Followed by the pain of resuscitation, in their cases. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2013, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-painful-natural-way-to-die/654722/49 "2013-04-05T13:14:57Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Any heart rhythm disturbance that suddenly causes your blood pressure to fall to zero (ventricular tachycardia without a pulse, ventricular fibrillation, asystole) would be pretty painless. Here one moment, gone the next. Does it even have to go to zero? I had a vasovagal syncope event one time, and my BP dropped as a result, and it was like someone flipped a switch- beforehand I was ok, maybe a bit woozy, and then the next thing I recall was waking up. No pain or anything- just instant unconsciousness. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2013, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-painful-natural-way-to-die/654722/50 "2013-04-05T15:25:41Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > …My father died in his sleep, or while unconscious, only one day after going to a Seder in perfect health. I’d be happy to go that way… My father in law, may he rest in peace, died the day after Yom Kippur. The family always thought that was a good thing, sort of a blessing. > [@Learjeff](#): > > If I ever decide to check out, I’ll just tie a big bag of N2O over my head and enjoy the few remaining minutes… My maternal grandmother, ditto, committed suicide after vaginal cancer had spread through her body and the pain became too much. She took some Darvon, made a toast to my mother, and went into her bedroom alone and put a bag over her head. My mother poured the drinks. Can’t imagine that, or myself doing that with my mom, God forbid. What a post. (Excessive Jewish oaths courtesy of subject matter.) ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2013, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-painful-natural-way-to-die/654722/51 "2013-04-05T15:45:47Z")
> [@phouka](#): > > Getting a lungful of water is actually not painful at all. Several years ago, I was snorkeling for the first time and decided to turn over and float on my back. I kind of forgot about the part where the end of the snorkel was now underwater. I had just finished exhaling a large breath, so I sucked in enough seawater to fill my lungs. > > I didn’t choke or cough. It just felt like I’d taken a deep breath of air that happened to be 20 degrees cooler than the last breath. I realized what I’d done and immediately jack-knifed out of the water, pulled the snorkel out of my mouth and expelled as much water as I could before I started coughing. > > The coughing only starts when you’ve got both air and water in your lungs. I managed to start breathing again pretty quickly, but I spent the remainder of the evening coughing. Seawater is significantly more salty than plasma, so I kept having to clear my lungs even after the vast majority of the seawater was out, because what remained pulled plasma into my lungs to balance the osmotic pressure. Wow, what an experience that must’ve been. I’ve always thought that freezing to death is a comfortable way to go. You just go to sleep… ---
**Author:** ![Learjeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/94ad74/32.png) [@Learjeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Learjeff)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2013, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-painful-natural-way-to-die/654722/52 "2013-04-05T16:20:30Z")
> [@panaccione](#): > > I’ll keep that in mind should the situation ever arise. I’m hoping it doesn’t. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2013, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-painful-natural-way-to-die/654722/53 "2013-04-05T17:43:37Z")
My neighbor had a bad heart. One day he simply collapsed, without a sound. He was dead within seconds…that sounds pretty painless to me. ---
**Author:** ![PBear42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@PBear42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PBear42)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2013, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-painful-natural-way-to-die/654722/54 "2013-04-06T07:16:08Z")
> [@echo7tango](#): > > I’ve always thought that freezing to death is a comfortable way to go. You just go to sleep… I was a little surprised no one had mentioned hypothermia before this. My understanding is the same. Any comments from the medical types? ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2013, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-painful-natural-way-to-die/654722/55 "2013-04-06T11:05:33Z")
> [@PBear42](#): > > I was a little surprised no one had mentioned hypothermia before this. My understanding is the same. Any comments from the medical types? Hypothermia snuck up on me on time. I am fairly certain if I had NOT been woken up I would have just slipped this mortal coil and it would have been a fairly pleasant way to die. I think the problem with hypothermia is MOST of the time you spend lots of time before dieing being cold and miserable. Not exactly painful but not much fun either. ---
**Author:** ![chorpler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chorpler/32/2888_2.png) [@chorpler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chorpler)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2013, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-painful-natural-way-to-die/654722/56 "2013-04-06T14:43:35Z")
Depending on how the cold gets you, it can be pretty painful to be cold, in my experience. Also, a significant fraction of hypothermia victims experience [paradoxical undressing](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypothermia#Paradoxical_undressing), which apparently occurs because they suddenly feel too hot and start disrobing. That sounds like it could be pretty uncomfortable. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2013, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-painful-natural-way-to-die/654722/57 "2013-04-06T14:47:49Z")
> [@chorpler](#): > > Depending on how the cold gets you, it can be pretty painful to be cold, in my experience. > > Also, a significant fraction of hypothermia victims experience [paradoxical undressing](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypothermia#Paradoxical_undressing), which apparently occurs because they suddenly feel too hot and start disrobing. That sounds like it could be pretty uncomfortable. I think by the time someone starts undressing, they’ve pretty much lost it and are feeling fine. Deliriously fine. ---
**Author:** ![terryfly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d6d6ee/32.png) [@terryfly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terryfly)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2014, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-painful-natural-way-to-die/654722/58 "2014-11-21T19:09:02Z")
Actually renal (kidney) failure is pretty painless. My uncle went through this where he had kidney dialysis for a period of time, but the site would always atrophy. Eventually there were no more places on his body where he could be administered dialysis. Once he stopped receiving dialysis, toxins started building up in his blood, he become unconscious, and organ shut down occurred afterwards. He was in hospice less than 24 hrs. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2014, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-painful-natural-way-to-die/654722/59 "2014-11-21T19:25:23Z")
> [@terryfly](#): > > Actually renal (kidney) failure is pretty painless. My uncle went through this where he had kidney dialysis for a period of time, but the site would always atrophy. Eventually there were no more places on his body where he could be administered dialysis. Once he stopped receiving dialysis, toxins started building up in his blood, he become unconscious, and organ shut down occurred afterwards. He was in hospice less than 24 hrs. The end stage of end stage renal disease, sure. Problem is there tends to be years leading up to that that often involve neuropathy, nonhealing sores and just generally feeling like crap. Not necessarily pain, but no energy, no gumption, no actually enjoying life. That would be pretty emotionally painful for me, if not physically so. If he skipped those complications, he’s a lucky guy. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2014, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-painful-natural-way-to-die/654722/60 "2014-11-21T22:08:39Z")
> [@eightysix](#): > > I agree with this. While I have never spoken to anyone who died this way, I have spoken to people who witnessed someone die this way, and that’s pretty much the description. About as close to “drop dead” as you can get. Of course, it’s not usually as stress free for the witnesses as it is for the dier. Wouldn’t it be essentially the same sensation as fainting due to vasovagal syncope, except that you don’t wake up afterward? If so, I can attest that it’s entirely painless. One minute you’re awake, the next you’re laying there on the bathroom floor wondering how you ended up there. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-painful-natural-way-to-die/654722.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-painful-natural-way-to-die/654722.md?page=4)