Near death experiences (NDEs), reported to include sensations
such as life flashing before the eyes, feelings of peace and joy, and apparent
encounters with mystical entities, cause raised levels of carbon
dioxide in the blood.
Researchers writing in BioMed Central's open access
journal Critical Care investigated the unexplained events in 52 cardiac arrest
patients.Zalika Klemenc-Ketis worked with a team of researchers from the University of
Maribor, Slovenia, to examine patients who reported NDEs. She said, 'Several
theories explaining the mechanisms of NDEs exist. We found that in those
patients who experienced the phenomenon, blood carbon dioxide levels were
significantly higher than in those who did not.'Of the 52 patients, 11 reported NDEs. Their occurrence did not correlate with
patients' sex, age, level of education, religious belief, fear of death, time to
recovery or drugs given during resuscitation. They were more common in people
who had previously experienced NDEs. According to Klemenc-Ketis, 'Our study adds
new and important information to the field of NDE phenomena. The association
with carbon dioxide has never been reported before, and deserves further
study.'
Source:
BioMed
Central
