What happens inside the body when one dies of old age?

S B · **Posted:** Sun Nov 26, 2006 6:47 pm

What takes place inside of the body just prior to and when one dies of old age? What are the signs that this is about to happen? How much warning does a person get before the actual time comes? Does this person have time to get his/her affairs in order once the signs appear? Is dieing of old age ALWAYS painless and does it ALWAYS happen in ones sleep?

Dr. McDougall’s newsletter article on living to 100 (Jan. 2006) has the following about dieing from old age:
“We should all seek long lives free of disease and disability, and then die quickly and quietly when we reach the end of the normal lifespan—when we are worn out through our natural processes of aging. With the elimination of disease a proper death from old age comes peacefully—ideally, one night we simply fall asleep and we pass on.”

He says, ideally, we fall asleep and do not wake up. BUT is it ALWAYS this way?

I do not mean to be morbid. (Quite the opposite, really!) I used to fear having to endure painful and disabling illnesses when I got older and wondered how I would ever cope! Now, thoughts of my becoming ill (from diet and lifestyle related diseases) do not cross my mind! I now have my sights on living an extremely long, happy, useful life and then painlessly dieing of old age at a very old age many years from now -- after my work on Earth is done.

Of course, anyone can get hit by a car, contract a fatal viral or bacterial infection, or the like -- but, even so, I think the odds of us McDougallers dieing from nothing but old age are pretty good!

Thanks!

Sunny · **Posted:** Mon Nov 27, 2006 6:34 am

It is not morbid to ask these questions, you are curious and that is quite normal. My Great Grandmother and Grandmother both died peacefully in sleep according to the Dr.'s. My Great Grandmother passed away at age 98 she was in general good health, she was slim and tall. My Grandmother passed away at age 89, slightly overweight possibly for her height, but she looked good. They were both always active, they walked every where, neither drove cars. They cooked,cleaned and did everything on their own. They were slower with age and tired much quicker as they grew older. I contribute their long lives and good health to the fact that they never ate fast food, both always cooked all their own meals. They did not eat much meat, maybe once a week after Sunday Mass we would have a big family dinner. They came to this country from Italy and did not have alot of money so we ate alot of veggies,beans and pasta's. They always ate fish on Friday (Catholic). So in my experience it is quick, quiet and painless to die in your sleep when your life is over.

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What happens inside the body when one dies of old age?

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