If you’ve ever sat beside a loved one as they took their final breath, you may have heard a sound that left you shaken – a wet, rattling noise that seemed like choking or gasping for air.
It’s heartbreaking to witness, but according to hospice nurse Julie McFadden, it’s not a sign of struggle. In fact, it’s one of the body’s natural ways of saying goodbye – a peaceful signal that the end is near, and that your loved one is gently slipping away, not suffering.
“The death rattle, it is the most normal thing and to be expected at the end of life. However, if you’re not used to hearing it, it can feel like the scariest thing you’ve ever heard,” the Los Angeles-based nurse explained in a Facebook clip.“So many people have written to me saying hearing the death rattle traumatized them. [But] I feel like if we had been educated about this before hearing it and knowing what it was, it may help to dampen that fear a bit,” added the palliative care nurse who authored the book, “Nothing to Fear: Demystifying Death To Live More Fully.”
What is the death rattle?
According to Healthline, “A death rattle is a crackling, wet sound that may accompany each breath. It occurs when a person is nearing the end of their life and may not be strong enough to clear the secretions from their throat.”
It’s a physical part of the natural dying process – like the slowing of the heartbeat or the cooling of the skin – that occurs when a person is too weak or unconscious to clear the natural buildup of saliva and mucus in the throat.
