# What exactly is a death rattle?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-a-death-rattle/241966>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 25, 2004, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-a-death-rattle/241966 "2004-04-25T22:05:11Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ReuvenB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc348/32.png) [@ReuvenB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReuvenB)\
**Post date:** [April 25, 2004, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-a-death-rattle/241966/1 "2004-04-25T22:05:11Z")

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What exactly is a death rattle? Does it have something to do with heavy breathing in the moments before death, or what?

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**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\
**Post date:** [April 25, 2004, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-a-death-rattle/241966/2 "2004-04-25T22:14:41Z")

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I think it’s to do with the throat muscles relaxing and the soft tissues rattling in the breeze of the last few breaths.

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**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\
**Post date:** [April 25, 2004, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-a-death-rattle/241966/3 "2004-04-25T22:45:44Z")

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I’ve always thought it referred to the sound of the respiratory secretions rattling around in the upper airways. A person who’s about to die lacks the reflex and/or strength to clear them (sort of like clearing your throat).

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**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\
**Post date:** [April 25, 2004, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-a-death-rattle/241966/4 "2004-04-25T22:47:10Z")

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And I should have added that their presence does not mean death is imminent (i.e. seconds or minutes). More like (many) hours or even days.

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**Author:** ![Mathochist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c89c15/32.png) [@Mathochist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mathochist)\
**Post date:** [April 25, 2004, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-a-death-rattle/241966/5 "2004-04-25T23:00:39Z")

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> [@XWalrus2](#):
>
> What exactly is a death rattle? Does it have something to do with heavy breathing in the moments before death, or what?

It’s about the worst choice for a baby shower gift. 😃