End-of-life nurse reveals why patients let out ‘death rattle’ before dying: ‘The scariest thing you’ve ever heard’
A hospice nurse is raising awareness about the ‘death rattle’ patients utter before they die – and why it’s nothing to worry about.
Julie McFadden, who manages end-of-life care in Los Angeles, said the noise — such as a gurgling or wet, crackling sound — is a normal part of the dying process.
It causes no pain in patients, who are normally unconscious and is caused by air passing through fluid that builds up in the mouth as a person breathes.
But despite this, the noise still leaves many family members ‘traumatized’ and convinced that their loved ones have died in suffering.
Los Angeles nurse Julie McFadden posted online about the death rattle, which happens about 24 hours before someone dies
said Mrs. McFadden online: ‘The death rattle, it is the most normal thing in the world and to be expected at the end of life. However, if you’re not used to hearing it, it could be the scariest thing you’ve ever heard.”
“So many people have written to me saying that hearing the ‘death rattle’ traumatized them.
“(But) I feel like if we were informed about this before we heard it and knew what it was, it might help to calm that fear a little bit.”
Normally, the body continually produces mucus in the mouth, which is cleared by the brain and subconsciously sends signals to the throat to swallow.
But in those who reach the end of life, this system breaks down – with saliva no longer being swallowed, leading to a build-up in the mouth. This then begins to ‘rattle’ as the air moves in and out as a person takes their last breath.
The video was posted online on TikTok and has already been viewed more than 1.8 million times
Ms McFadden revealed the advice in a TikTok that has already racked up more than 1.8 million views online.
One viewer wrote: ‘It was horrible with my dad. It sounded like he had mucus stuck. I’ll hear that sound for the rest of my life.’
A second said: ‘I always thought my mum suffocated when she died. I now finally believe she was not in pain. Thank you.’
And a third added: ‘My mother passed away three weeks ago and I was so scared hearing her do this that I felt like I couldn’t help her and the hospice nurse never told us about this . We thought she was suffocating.”
The death rattle indicates that death is very close, with a person living on average 25 hours after it begins.
According to studies, it occurs in about 40 percent of people during the dying phase.
The noise can be reduced by using medications to dry the mouth or by turning a patient on their side to allow the accumulated fluid to drain out.
Units generally avoid using suction because it can cause the body to increase mucus production, making the problem worse.
Doctors say that in the days to hours before death, patients may experience a sudden and brief burst of energy before suddenly having much less energy.
In addition to the rattling, their breathing may become more irregular, their pulse may weaken, and their hands and feet may become cold, purple, and blotchy.
In the minutes before death, the eyes and mouth may remain open and breathing may become more labored.
The body continually produces saliva in the mouth to keep the gums moist and to aid in the breakdown and removal of food from the area.
The mouth also receives mucus from the lungs, which is lifted out by tiny hairs called cilia, which transport fluids through the airways.