What’s the difference between no brain activity and brain dead?
A PERSON who's brain dead has no chance of recovery because their body is unable to survive without artificial life support.
Before rapper DMX died at 50 years old, it was reported that the icon had "no brain activity" and was in a vegetative state.
* Read our DMX live blog for the latest news and health updates..
What does brain dead mean?
Brain death is when no brain function exists, causing death.
Brain death results from "swelling in the brain where blood flow in the brain ceases and without blood to oxygenate the cells and the tissue dies" according to Life Source.
Once brain tissue dies, there is nothing that can be done to heal it.
When a person deteriorates to brain death, the body’s entire system stops.
The brain death victim cannot breathe, their heart cannot beat and their body cannot function once the brain dies.
Brain death is a rare event that occurs in one out of every 200 hospital deaths
What does no brain activity mean?
If a person is in a permanent vegetative state but not brain-dead, their life support is keeping them alive with fluids and nutrition.
If these are stopped, it may take anywhere from a few hours to several days for the person's vital organs to shut down completely according to Healthline.
Life support is what gives doctors the ability to perform complicated surgeries or prolongs people's lives who are recovering from traumatic incidents.
It can become permanently necessary for people to stay alive.
Some people who are using a life-support device don’t always recover and they may not regain the ability to breathe and function on their own.
What will happen to DMX after his overdose?
Rapper DMX was in a coma and reportedly had no brain activity since he was hospitalized due to an overdose.
The music star, whose real name is Earl Simmons, was in a critical condition after suffering a heart attack reportedly triggered by a drug overdose.
TMZ reported that his brain tests "showed no improvement" of activity since late April 2. The rapper died on April 9 at 50 years old.
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The rapper reportedly had to be revived three times.
Citing a source, ET reported how medics "tried to revive him twice in the house, and revived him again in the hospital."
The insider said: "This is a very difficult time for the family. They are standing by his bedside, holding his hand and praying. They are really in prayer mode."