A palliative care nurse is raising awareness about the “death rattles” patients let out before they die – and why there is nothing to be alarmed about.
Julie McFadden, who administers end-of-life care in Los Angeles, said noise, such as a gurgling or wet crunch, is a normal part of the dying process.
It does not cause any pain to patients, who are usually unconscious, and is triggered when air passes through fluid that accumulates in the mouth when someone breathes.
But despite this, the noise still leaves many relatives “traumatized” and convinced that their loved ones died suffering.
Los Angeles nurse Julie McFadden posted online about death rattles, which occur about 24 hours before someone dies.
Mrs. McFadden said online: ‘The death rattles are the most normal and expected thing at the end of life. However, if you’re not used to hearing it, it may seem like the scariest thing you’ve ever heard.
‘Many people have written to me saying that hearing the “death rattle” traumatized them.
“(But) I feel like if we had been educated about this before we heard it and knew what it was, it might help calm that fear a little bit.”
Normally, the body constantly produces mucus in the mouth, which the brain removes and unconsciously sends signals to the throat to swallow.
But in those who reach the end of their lives, this system breaks down and saliva is no longer swallowed, causing a buildup in the mouth. This then begins to “rattling” as air moves in and out as someone takes their last breath.
The video was posted on TikTok online and has already garnered more than 1.8 million views.
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 to my dad. It sounded like he had mucus stuck. I will hear that noise for the rest of my life.
A second said: “I always thought my mother was drowning when she died.” Finally now I believe she was not in pain. Thank you.’
And a third added: ‘My mum passed away three weeks ago and I was so scared when I heard her do this I felt like I couldn’t help her and the hospice nurse never told us about this. We thought she was drowning.
The death rattle indicates that death is very close and that someone lives an average of 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 the patient on their side to allow accumulated fluids to drain.
Units generally avoid using suction because this can cause the body to increase its production of mucus, making the problem worse.
In the days or hours before death, doctors say patients may experience a sudden, brief surge of energy before suddenly having much less.
In addition to rales, your breathing may also become more erratic, your pulse weakens, and your 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 help with the breakdown and removal of food from the area.
The mouth also receives mucus from the lungs, which is expelled by small hairs called cilia that move the liquids into the respiratory tract.