Death rattle: Signs, meaning, and duration Health ConditionsHealth ConditionsAlzheimer's & DementiaAnxietyArthritisAsthma & AllergiesBreast CancerCancerCardiovascular HealthCOVID-19Dermatology & SkincareDiabetesEnvironment & SustainabilityExercise & FitnessEye HealthHeadache & MigraineHealth EquityHIV & AIDSHuman BiologyInflammatory Bowel DiseaseLeukemiaLGBTQIA+Men's HealthMental HealthMultiple Sclerosis (MS)NutritionParkinson's DiseasePsoriasisSexual HealthWomen's HealthDiscoverNewsLatest NewsOriginal SeriesMedical MythsHonest NutritionThrough My EyesNew Normal HealthPodcastsHow to understand chronic painWhat is behind vaccine hesitancy?The amazing story of hepatitis C, from discovery to cureNew directions in dementia researchCan psychedelics rewire a depressed, anxious brain?Why climate change matters for human healthToolsGeneral HealthDrugs A-ZHealth HubsHealth ToolsBMI Calculators and ChartsBlood Pressure Chart: Ranges and GuideBreast Cancer: Self-Examination GuideSleep CalculatorHealth ProductsAffordable Therapy OptionsBlood Pressure MonitorsDiabetic SuppliesFitness TrackersHome GymsGreen Cleaning ProductsHow to Shop for CBDQuizzesRA Myths vs FactsType 2 Diabetes: Managing Blood SugarAnkylosing Spondylitis Pain: Fact or FictionConnectAbout Medical News TodayWho We AreOur Editorial ProcessContent IntegrityConscious LanguageNewslettersSign UpFollow UsMedical News TodayHealth ConditionsDiscoverToolsConnectSubscribe Why does a death rattle occur Medically reviewed by Shilpa Amin, M.D., CAQ, FAAFP — By Jenna Fletcher — Updated on September 13, 2022As someone approaches death, their body begins to exhibit symptoms. The breathing patterns change and can create a rattling sound. This sound is known as the death rattle, and it is a part of the dying process. A death rattle can occur when a person who is dying is no longer able to swallow, cough, or otherwise clear saliva and mucus from the back of the throat, and because secretions in the respiratory tract may be increased. The sound varies. It may be a crackling, wet noise that is amplified as the person breathes. In other cases, it may sound like a soft moaning with each breath, or a very loud gurgling or snoring. While the sound may be unpleasant, the person emitting the death rattle usually feels no pain or discomfort. The death rattle signals that death is very near. On average, a person usually lives for around 25 hours after the death rattle and the dying process begins. What are the causes Share on PinterestA person nearing death may be unable to clear secretions from the back of their throat, causing the death rattle. Image credit: Photographee.eu/ShutterstockThe death rattle happens because the person can no longer remove secretions, such as saliva and phlegm, from the back of the throat. People normally clear these secretions without any trouble, but a person nearing death may not have the strength. Breathing patterns change as someone nears death and breaths may alternate from quiet to very loud. A dying person may draw a sharp breath, then not breathe for several moments. This labored breathing may amplify the death rattle. Symptoms The death rattle is a sign that a person is approaching death. With each breath, a person may make a moaning, snoring, or rattling sound. The following can also occur as a person nears death:confusionlung congestionincontinencea change in the pattern of breathing or difficulty breathinga difference in the odor of a persondark bruisingcold and bluish extremitiesagitationsleepinessdrifting in and out of consciousnessmottled skin The death rattle can sound like the person is choking. However, no evidence suggests that the dying person is aware of the sound or experiences any related pain or unease. How is it managed Share on PinterestA nurse or medical professional can provide advice on easing the sound of a death rattle. Image credit: SDI Productions/iStock The death rattle is not painful. However, it may be upsetting for the dying person’s loved ones. A nurse may do the following to ease the sound:turn the person on their sideraise the head so the secretions can drainmoisten the mouth with damp swabsuse suction to drain secretions from the mouthlimit fluid intakeadminister medication to clear the secretions Proposed treatments are unlikely to prevent a death rattle, emphasizing that it is a natural stage of dying. Medical professionals caring for a dying person will explain the noise to any loved ones present. Addressing the grief and needs of loved ones may help everyone to be more comfortable during the dying process. How long do you live after the death rattle starts The amount of time that a person lives after the death rattle begins can vary based on many different factors. However, one study found that the dying process lasted around 25 hours on average and was characterized by symptoms like death rattle, restlessness, and confusion. According to the study, the dying process lasts slightly longer for individuals in hospice care than for those in the hospital. Additionally, the death rattle doesn’t occur for everyone. In fact, the death rattle was only reported in about 40% of people during the dying phase and in about 35% of people during the last 24 hours of life. Takeaway The death rattle is a natural part of the dying process in many people who are terminally ill. The noisy breathing can be distressing to family and other loved ones witnessing the death, but there is no evidence that the dying person experiences pain or discomfort. While there is no way to prevent a death rattle, there are several steps that a nurse or clinician can take to reduce the sound and make the process more comfortable. Last medically reviewed on September 13, 2022Palliative Care / Hospice Care 6 sourcescollapsedMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.Changes in the last hours and days: End of life care. (2020).https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/end-of-life-care/changes-in-the-last-hours-and-days/End of life: Providing care and comfort at the end of life. (2021).https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/providing-comfort-end-life Lokker, M. E., et al. (2021). Hydration and symptoms in the last days of life.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8380917/Star, A., et al. (2018). Updates in palliative care – recent advancements in the pharmacological management of symptoms.https://www.rcpjournals.org/content/clinmedicine/18/1/11 van Esch, H. J., et al. (2020). Understanding relatives' experience of death rattle.https://bmcpsychology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40359-020-00431-3Watts, T., et al. (2019). Death rattle: Reassuring harbinger of imminent death or a perfect example of inadequacies in evidence-based practice.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31567520/FEEDBACK:Medically reviewed by Shilpa Amin, M.D., CAQ, FAAFP — By Jenna Fletcher — Updated on September 13, 2022 Latest newsWhat sets 'SuperAgers' apart? Their unusually large neuronsOmega-3 may provide a brain boost for people in midlifeSeasonal affective disorder (SAD): How to beat it this fall and winterCDC: Monkeypox in the US 'unlikely to be eliminated in the near future'Why are more women prone to Alzheimer's? New clues arise Related CoverageDeath anxiety: The fear that drives us? 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