Does the human body have a defence mechanism to make the point of death easier?

Question

I have heard many stories where people have been shot by a gun but they only thought they had only been punched. Is there any evidence of the human body producing chemicals that would make the process of death less traumatic?

Answer 1

Adrenaline and endorphin product response in the brain to the body experiencing a trauma, and triggering the fight or flight response in a person. When those chemicals are being pumped through the body at a much higher rate than normal, in addition to matching the heart rate and keeping the body ready for fight or flight, it is very possible for a person to not even feel the gunshot, in your example, and keep on as if they were not injured. It varies from person to person, depending on the individual, one can be blessed with that gift, or suffer a tremendous amount of pain. Thresholds for pain are the dependant contributing factor that come with the amounts of the reactive and protective chemical production.

Answer 2

Yes.
There are opoid like compounds released in response to pain, which bind to the body's natural receptors for these compounds, and act to reduce pain. It is thought that, to an extent, the greater the trauma, or degree of pain the more of the compound is produced.
Interestingly, there is also a compound the body produces when death is near that closely resembles Valium, and acts as a natural tranquiliser.
HOWEVER, I took care of more than one gunshot victim (I worked for quite awhile in ERs) that came in screaming there heads off, and the ones that weren't were unconscious.
People that have had a serious gunshot may have felt the original impact as a punch, but my experience was that it sure progressed from there. Too, my experience with gunshot wounds was that the fatal ones were either DOA, or unconscious by the time they got to the ER.
Anyway the answer to your question is that yes, definitely, the body does produce identifiable compounds that make the process of death easier.
Interesting question!

Answer 3

your body produces endorphins which is the body's natural pain killer. so the assumption could be correct that in times of extreme pain or trauma your body would indeed release painkillers. I've heard of a person getting a car door closed on his hand so forcefully it was hanging from the wrist, he walked away unaware until somebody pointed out to him his hand was hanging off. and in the Vietnam war doctors learnt a very important lesson that injured troops would go and lie down somewhere quiet, the body released endorphins their blood pressure stabilised but once found and the medics gave them a blood transfusion it killed them. blood pressure raised and tore any coagulated vessels that had healed themselves. adrenilin is incredible it can alter perception, fast moving things slow down but your body can react to stimulis in a split second. i myself have saved the lives of 2 children. one child on a bus mother not holding his hand, bus braked hard kid went flying toward the hand rail head first, i grabbed him about a millimetre before he hit it. 2nd was a kid walked onto the bus lane as a bus came at 40 miles an hour about 30 yards and approaching fast i grabbed him just before he was splatter on the windscreen. myself i couldnt run 100 metres in under a minute. so where did the speed and agility come from

Answer 4

Yes. They are called "Near Death Experiences" or NDEs.