Why Is the Nose Sometimes Mentioned?
The nose is often linked to end-of-life discussions because changes in smell and breathing may occur during severe illness.
Some patients lose their sense of smell due to neurological conditions, infections, or aging. Others develop changes in breathing patterns that family members notice first.
In the final stages of life, reduced circulation can also affect the nose, hands, and feet, causing them to feel cooler than normal. However, there is no scientific evidence that the nose itself acts as a special “death detector.”
Instead, changes involving smell, breathing, and circulation are part of broader physiological changes occurring throughout the body.
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Image description: Medical illustrations and examinations related to breathing and neurological function.