Here is a concise summary of the 10 curiosities about death:
1. **12 Changes After Death**: The body undergoes 12 changes after dying, including skin color change, blood viscosity increase, temporary rigidity, and decomposition (slower nowadays due to consumed products).
2. **Fire Deaths**: Most fire deaths are caused by smoke inhalation, not flames, especially in enclosed spaces.
3. **Postmortem Erection**: In some cases, men (and women) can experience an erection after death due to various factors like gravity or brain damage.
4. **Suicides on Vacation**: Contrary to popular belief, suicide rates do not increase during holidays; in fact, they might decrease. However, altitudes above 2000m see a 70% increase in suicides.
5. **Sex Differences in Mortality**: Men are 5 times more likely to die than women, especially between ages 20-24, and twice as likely to die from heart problems, cancer, or age-related diseases after 50.
6. **Sense Loss After Death**: The order of sense loss after death is unclear; while sight might be the first to go, hearing's last status is a theory, with some evidence suggesting touch might be the last sense to fade.
7. **Decapitation Consciousness**: The myth that heads remain conscious for 20 seconds after decapitation is false; muscle spasms, not conscious actions, cause post-decapitation movements.
8. **Left-Handed People's Mortality**: Left-handed individuals might have a 2% higher mortality rate than right-handed people, potentially due to difficulties navigating a right-handed world.
9. **Hair and Nail Growth After Death**: This phenomenon is short-lived (only a few hours) and can be misleading due to dehydration causing the appearance of longer hair and nails.
10. **Most Common Cause of Death**: While cardiorespiratory arrest is often listed, it's not the underlying cause; doctors must specify the fundamental cause (e.g., heart disease, cancer) that led to the cardiorespiratory arrest.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text, numbered and in short sentences, excluding opinions:
**1. Post-Mortem Changes**
* After dying, approximately 12 changes occur in the body.
* These changes include skin color alteration, blood viscosity increase, temporary body rigidity, and general decomposition.
**2. Decomposition Process**
* Decomposition takes longer nowadays due to consumed products.
* Autolysis is a process where enzymes that previously digested food attack the body's tissues after death.
**3. Fire-Related Deaths**
* In fires, the primary cause of death is often smoke inhalation, not flames.
* This is more likely to occur in enclosed spaces.
**4. Post-Mortem Erection (Priapism)**
* Priapism can occur in both men and women after death.
* In women, it may manifest as swollen and reddened vaginal lips.
* Causes include brain damage, blood accumulation due to gravity, and certain death circumstances (e.g., hanging).
**5. Suicide Rates**
* Suicide rates do not increase during holidays; this is a myth.
* A study found a 70% increase in suicides at altitudes of 2000 meters or more.
**6. Sex Differences in Mortality**
* Men have a 5 times higher chance of dying than women, especially between ages 20-24.
* After age 50-60, men's mortality rate doubles due to heart problems, cancer, and age-related diseases.
**7. Order of Sense Loss After Death**
* Theories suggest the last sense lost after death might be hearing, but this is not definitively proven.
* Touch, or the ability to respond to painful stimuli, might also be the last sense to go.
**8. Decapitation and Consciousness**
* The belief that heads remain conscious for about 20 seconds after decapitation is a myth.
* Movements after decapitation are muscle spasms, not conscious actions.
* The head enters a coma within 2 seconds due to lack of oxygen.
**9. Left-Handed People's Mortality**
* Left-handed people may have a 2% greater probability of dying than right-handed people (as per a 1991 study).
* Life expectancy might be 9 years less for left-handed individuals on average.
**10. Hair and Nail Growth After Death**
* Hair and nails do appear to grow after death, but only for a few hours.
* This appearance can also be due to body dehydration, making them seem longer.
**11. Most Common Cause of Death**
* Cardiorespiratory arrest is often listed as the immediate cause of death.
* However, the underlying (fundamental) cause can vary widely, explaining why cardiorespiratory arrest occurs.