The most painful ways to die (according to science)

Crucifixion

Most of us associate crucifixion with the death of Jesus Christ, but this type of torture goes back to about the 6th century BCE.

While most images depict nails through the palms of the hands, these are historically incorrect. The nails would instead go through the wrists, hitting the median nerve, which is incredibly painful. Not to mention all the insects that would irritate the wounds even more.

Lethal injection

The most used protocol once included three drugs: a barbiturate and anesthetic, a muscle relaxant, and finally a drug to stop the person's heart. But this three-drug protocol was abandoned by some justice systems, in favor of single drugs. These, however, can make the pain last for minutes to hours, until the person dies.

Drowning

While it doesn't take forever, the process of drowning can be quite painful. To begin with, a person who is drowning is usually panicking, which leads to hyperventilation. But instead of air, the person will breathe in water.

Electrocution

Many of us have experienced small electric shocks, and they sure can be painful, but dying by electrocution is a whole different ball game.

Burning

If the thought of burning to death makes you cringe, there is a good reason for it: it's absolutely horrific. Our skin has numerous nerves, so the pain felt when these burn is very intense.

If you've ever wondered how lava might kill you, here's a summary. Your skin would boil and you'd go into instant rigor mortis (stiffening of the body). Not to mention that your brain might also boil, cracking your skull.

Freezing

This will then be followed by muscle stiffness and brain malfunction. As your body tries to supply blood to your vital organs, the extremities will become painful. Frostbite then can cause a burning sensation. Overall, freezing is definitely not a pain-free way to die.

Heart attack

There is usually pain radiating to the arm, jaw, neck, and back. Not to mention the crushing pressure felt on the chest, which is commonly described as if an elephant was sitting on your chest.

Radiation

This then translates into a number of health problems that impact the immune system. These eventually lead to serious complications such as the collapse of the circulatory system and, ultimately, death.

Pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer can cause a great deal of pain when it presses against the nerves around the area. This causes agonizing abdominal and back pain. Intestinal blockages can also occur, as well as referred soft-tissue pain in other parts of the body.

Boomslang

How does the venom kill you? Through hemorrhages. Essentially victims will bleed severely, internally. Then, uncontrollable shaking will set in, as well as nausea and high fever. It is indeed a painful death.

Decompression sickness

The problem is that the nitrogen accumulates, and if divers return to the surface too quickly, the nitrogen will expand and form bubbles, which affect the entire body. Decompression sickness, also known as barotrauma, or the bends, can be very painful and lead to death.