Signs of death for long-term bedridden patients

For sick people, it is a very painful thing if they lose the ability to move and have to stay in bed for a long time. For some elderly people, if they have several physical problems and they are not suppressed or treated in time, they will easily lose their ability to move and become bedridden for a long time. If a patient is bedridden for a long time, it will be a torture to the patient's body and mind. So what are the signs of death for patients who are bedridden for a long time?

1. Signs of an elderly person being seriously ill and dying

Because different types of diseases have different effects on body functions, the signs of the elderly in the dying stage are also different. The most common manifestations are as follows: drastic changes in temperament, sudden changes in consciousness or mood, such as irritability, sudden silence or coma; hallucinations, nonsense; sudden convulsions, loss of consciousness; persistent high fever or a drop in body temperature, faster heartbeat, and lowered blood pressure; difficulty breathing, obvious wheezing; cold and wet limbs, changes in skin color, and scattered bleeding spots on the skin; gradual decrease in urine, and the body slowly becomes swollen; bad smell from the mouth and nose, and the appearance of black stools, etc.

2. Pain is the most severe symptom that the dying suffer from

Especially for patients with advanced cancer. Other terminally ill patients experience less severe pain. More than half of people experience new pain during their last few days of life. Pain control should be timely and effective, and the "three-step method" should be used correctly. Painkillers should be used regularly and in sufficient amounts, rather than only when necessary. It is more difficult to control pain when it occurs than to prevent it from occurring.

To address the discomfort and pain caused by not being able to take painkillers orally, painkillers can be given in various ways, such as through skin patches, sublingual administration, intravenous or intramuscular injections. In addition to drug pain relief, other methods can also be used to relieve pain, such as relaxation, hypnosis, acupuncture therapy, neurosurgery therapy, etc. In addition, if the pain is difficult to control and the patient has no appetite, do not force the patient to eat, so as not to increase the patient's burden and pain.

3. Sputum blockage and breathing difficulties are common symptoms of dying patients

Sputum and oral secretions should be suctioned out promptly. When breathing is shallow, rapid, difficult or there is Cheyne-Stokes respiration, give oxygen immediately. If the condition permits, the patient can take a semi-recumbent position or raise the head and shoulders. Some patients experience wheezing due to rapid breathing and anxiety. Anti-anxiety agents can be used according to the doctor's instructions, and morphine can be used to reduce the respiratory rate when necessary. At the same time, opening windows or using fans for ventilation, and the calm demeanor of nursing staff, gently touching the patient with their hands, and speaking in a gentle voice can help the patient stay calm.

In addition, if the patient has sputum sounds, the so-called "death rattle", wet and cold aerosol can be used for nebulization to make the secretions thinner and easier to cough out. Have a suction device ready at the bedside. For those who breathe through their mouth, moisten the mouth with wet wipes or cotton swabs, or moisten the lips with lip balm, and cover the mouth with wet gauze when the patient falls asleep.