Near-death experiences in cardiac patients 'may be down to CO2'
Friday 9th April 2010
Carbon dioxide (CO2) may be the cause of near-death experiences among cardiac patients, it has been found.
According to a study published in the journal Critical Care, which involved the examination of 52 people, levels of the waste gas were higher among 11 individuals who reported such feelings while having heart attacks.
The team behind the research, who are from Slovenia, suggest that the substance can cause people to believe they have witnessed things like discontinuous lights and their lives flashing before their lives.
Report author Zalika Klemenc-Ketis said: "It is potentially another piece of the puzzle, although much more work is needed."
The expert added: "Near-death experiences make us address our understanding of human consciousness so the more we know the better."
Cardiac arrests occur when the heart stops pumping blood around the body and the most common cause is an abnormal heart rhythm known as ventricular fibrillation.
Written by James Puckle
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