The death rattle can sound ‘wet’ or crackly and can vary between each breath.

“Sometimes, the sound is soft and moan-like,” Healthline continues. “Other times it’s loud and sounds like snoring or gargling.”

It can even sound like the person is ‘drowning’ or ‘choking’. However, the site reassures there’s ‘no evidence’ to suggest the person experiences ‘any pain or anxiety’ during this moment.

For loved ones, the sound can obviously be alarming and upsetting, but luckily, there are a few things you can do to help try and reduce it.

Advice on ‘death rattle’

Monitoring a person’s ‘oral fluid intake’ can help reduce the sound of the death rattle, alongside ‘repositioning a person so they are turned to their side with their head slightly elevated’.

Medical professionals may administer certain medicines or mouth care items to help reduce the amount of saliva present too.

Although, Healthline warns: “However, as a death rattle is often a symptom of the dying process, it may not be possible to eliminate the sound entirely.”

Ultimately, a person typically survives ‘an average of 23 hours after the onset of a death rattle’ – it’s an important time to make sure you have support in place while you see your loved one in such a condition, say your goodbyes, and navigate your way through the initial stages of the grieving process.

Support

No matter how long you have to try and come to terms with losing a loved one, you can never truly fully prepare for grief.

It’s something you ultimately have to learn and adjust to carrying with you and speaking about it to family, friends or mental health professionals can help ease the load.