So, in normal circumstances, the pilots should begin their descent110 NM from the target or the landing aerodrome. The use of trigonometry will always give the most accurate value for the top of descent.
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Descend at the optimum rate for the aircraft being flown until 1,000 feet above the assigned altitude, then descend at a rate between 500 and 1,500 fpm to the assigned altitude. If at any time, other than when slowing to 250 KIAS at 10,000 feet MSL, the pilot cannot descend at a rate of at least 500 fpm, advise ATC.
If the plane doesn't crash, the descent rate generally can't hurt you. If the plane crashes, the horizontal deceleration is likely to do far more harm than the vertical deceleration. That said, 18,000 feet per minute is pretty fast, like 180 knots, so unpressurized it could cause possibly ear & sinus damage.
The first indication to passengers that a plane is descending is the reduction in engine power, but that might not mean the aircraft is slowing. The most comfortable and quiet way for pilots to reduce the speed of a plane during the stages of descent is to level off briefly.