15 bizarre things that happen to your body after you die

Your skin will change colours – and keep changing – after you die! As gravity takes hold, it becomes purplish-red in spots where blood pools. And some killers make you even more colourful: “If a person dies from carbon monoxide poisoning, the blood turns cherry red,” says Judy Melinek, MD, a forensic pathologist and co-author with T.J. Mitchell of the New York Times bestseller Working Stiff: Two Years, 262 Bodies, and the Making of a Medical Examiner. “It even brightens all the organs internally. Victims of hydrogen sulphide gas poisoning can turn green.”

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Any air left in your body – from CPR or gas released by bacteria – could make your vocal cords vibrate. And, according to Mary Lachman, MD, a pathologist, “Sounds like moans, groans, or squeaks could be produced.” But don’t panic over an army of noisy corpses. Dr Lachman says this reaction only happens if someone’s pressing on your chest or manipulating your body.

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Apparently, death is the ultimate Botox. After you pass, “all of your muscles lose tension,” says Dr Lachman, causing all your wrinkles to smooth away.

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You’ve probably heard that your hair and nails keep growing after death – but that’s not true. “The most common misconceptions I get asked about are whether the fingernails or hair continues to grow after death,” Dr Melinek says. “This apparent lengthening of the hair and nails is due to the drying out of the scalp and the skin of the extremities, exposing more hair and nail underneath the receding tissues.”

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As bacteria in your body starts to decompose your digestive system, your body could release foul air through any opening – including your mouth!

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It’s not so pleasant to think about, but it happens. As all the muscles in your body relax, your sphincter muscles will too – and that means you’ll be releasing any urine and faeces that remain in your body, explains Dr Melinek.

It takes a while, but your body will get cold – you will lose 0.83 degrees Celsius per hour, for 20 to 30 hours, until you reach ambient temperature, according to Dr Lachman.

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No, you’re not becoming a zombie or reawakening. But your muscles may still twitch and contract a bit for several hours after you die, which can be very unsettling to anyone who’s around, says Dr Melinek.

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Unfortunately, you won’t smell very good after you die, and it can happen quickly. Two to three days in, your internal organs start to decay and produce two chemicals – putrescine and cadaverine – which can create an overwhelming stench, according to Dr Lachman.

Within 12 hours of your death, your entire body will become rigid as rigor mortis sets in, according to Dr Melinek. It will take a couple of days before your body relaxes again.

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