Just in: Doctor warns death may be near if you notice this symptom

DDM News

A palliative care specialist has shed light on a telltale sign that indicates someone is nearing death, while also suggesting that dying may not be as dreadful as many fear.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) reports that Dr. Kathryn Mannix, a doctor, writer, and advocate for Hospice UK, is encouraging society to break the taboo around death, describing it as a natural process that can be reclaimed.

Dr. Mannix has been actively involved in the Dying Matters campaign by Hospice UK and contributed to a BBC feature titled “Dying is not as bad as you think.”

She has frequently spoken about mortality across various platforms, pinpointing a specific indicator that suggests a patient’s time is drawing near.

She is also calling for a revival of the “wisdom” around death and dying, with the aim of dismantling the social discomfort surrounding end-of-life discussions.

The Dying Matters initiative by Hospice UK provides resources to help normalize conversations about death, dying, and bereavement, according to reports from the Express.

In a widely shared video, Dr. Mannix explains the most recognizable sign that death is close.

“As time goes by, people sleep more and are awake less,” she says. “Instead of just being asleep, this person has temporarily become unconscious. We can’t wake them up.”

She describes the final moments of life as a phase of shallow breathing, followed by one last out-breath that is not followed by another in-breath.

Dr. Mannix clarifies that this unconsciousness is not sleep but rather a transition into a deeper state of being before death.

She specifically mentions the phenomenon known as the “death rattle,” which occurs in the final stages of life.

According to her, this should not be viewed negatively but rather as part of a peaceful and natural process.

She explains that the sound occurs because the unconscious person can no longer clear mucus and saliva from the back of the throat.

This leads to a rattling noise during breathing as the body gradually shuts down.

The last breath, she says, may be so gentle that those present might not even realize it has happened.

Dr. Mannix emphasizes that understanding and accepting death as a shared human experience can help society support each other in times of loss.

She continues to advocate for a more compassionate and informed perspective on dying, one that acknowledges it not as a failure, but as a natural part of life.

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