A doctor has explained what sound someone makes when they have roughly 24 hours left to live.
Dying, regrettably, is a part of life that we all have to go through at some point.
Sadly this usually means that we lose some of the ones we love along the way, and it never gets any easier.
Death is a part of life. Credit: Luis Alvarez/Getty
If you’ve ever been with someone as they enter their final hours, you may have heard them make a sound known as the death rattle.
While this can be an extremely scary sound, there is a specific reason as to why it happens.
The death rattle is a common occurrence in the final hours of life, signaling that a person may have roughly 24 hours left to live, according to Dr. Daniel Murrell, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Alabama, Birmingham.
The sound occurs when individuals nearing death lose the ability to swallow or cough, leaving secretions in their respiratory tract that they can no longer clear.
While the noise may alarm loved ones, Dr. Murrell emphasizes that the death rattle is not painful for the individual.
As per the Daily Mail, he noted that this is part of the dying process.
The death rattle signifies that someone has entered their final hours. Credit: Thomas Northcut/Getty
The unsettling sound is caused by a buildup of secretions such as phlegm at the back of the throat.
Breathing patterns during this stage may vary, sometimes becoming loud or irregular, according to Medical News Today.
To ease the sound, caregivers can reposition the person, such as turning them on their side or elevating their head to allow secretions to drain.
Moistening the mouth with damp swabs may also provide some relief.
Steph Prescott, whose seven-year-old son Braiden died of neuroblastoma in 2016, described the harrowing moment she recognized her son’s death rattle.
“I woke at 3:00AM to hear what sounded like him choking,” said Steph via the Daily Mail. “I buzzed the nurse in, and they told me it was nearly time.”
The death rattle is painless. Credit: David Sacks/Getty
Braiden, who had tumors on his jaw that had prevented him from speaking for days, surprised his family in his final moments.
He asked for a photo with his father before passing away.
“When he passed, we were shocked,” Steph shared. “You don’t ever want to think you’re losing your baby, but we knew it was coming.”
Though the death rattle and other end-of-life signs can be distressing, understanding them can help families prepare and provide care during a loved one’s final hours.
While it will undoubtedly cause concern, you can take solace in knowing that the death rattle causes no pain.
