Latest news with #NuclearMedicine
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Doctor reveals 'haunting' sound people make when they have less than 24 hours to live
When a person is nearing the end of their life, a particularly eerie symptom could indicate death is just hours away, a doctor has revealed. Dr Paulien Moyaert, a Nuclear Medicine Resident and Researcher, from Belgium, explained that a distinctive phenomenon, hauntingly dubbed 'the death rattle', can manifest in someone's final moments. It occurs when a person can no longer effectively clear secretions from their throat, leading to the accumulation of fluids such as saliva and mucus. As the body weakens - and swallowing or coughing becomes less effective - a disturbingly wet clattering can hence be heard during breathing. Taking to her YouTube channel, where she often explains complex medical topics, Dr Moyaert, spoke about its causes, prognosis and treatment. 'A person usually lives for 23 hours after the death rattle begins,' she recounted. 'With each breath the person may make a moaning, snoring or rattling sound. 'This occurs because as consciousness decreases, patients lose their ability to swallow. Air moves these pooled secretions resulting in noising breathing. 'Some people say that the death rattle is the lungs' attempt to breathe through a layer of saliva.' However, the expert revealed that while the sound may be distressing to those nearby, it does not cause discomfort to the individual experiencing it. 'We often give drugs to try dry up the airways and soften the death rattle, but when we do it, it's not for the dying person but for their family,' she added. 'Repositioning the patient so that they're turned to their side with their head slightly elevated may also help.' Commenters rushed to remark on the 'haunting' symptom - admitting it left them feeling 'uncomfortable'. However, many also found it helpful to better process their experiences with losing loved ones. 'My friend is dying in Florida and her daughter is keeping me updated,' one remarked. 'She referenced a "death rattle" in one of her updates and I wasn't sure what that was. Thank you for explaining it.' Many rushed to the comments to thank the doctor for clearly explaining the phenomenon - albeit admitting the sound is 'haunting' Another added: 'Thank you for this, my mum made these sounds for a couple days before she died (she was not awake at this point but eyes open, rattle breathe etc) 'Although this video was pretty triggering I'm really glad to be able to find closure about the sound. 'It was really haunting and still makes me uncomfortable to think about (it sounded like she was choking and trying to clear her throat) anyway lol sorry for the rant, thank you for this.' 'THIS, is the sound that indicates that your loved one is about to take their next steps of their journey!' one penned. 'No more pain, or suffering, but TRUE PEACE!!! This may sound HORRIBLE, but just know your loved one isn't suffering!' A fourth added: 'This was invaluable information as my mother passed away this morning. She started making this noise yesterday, and it was so distressing to hear. I'm thankful to know she was not in pain, and the meds we gave her were for our benefit. Thanks again.' The death rattle occurs in about 40 percent of people during the dying phase, according to studies. The noise can be reduced using medications to dry the mouth or by turning a patient onto their side to allow fluids building up to spill out. Units generally avoid using suction because this can cause the body to ramp up its mucus production, making the problem worse. In the days to hours before death, doctors say patients may experience a sudden and brief surge in energy before suddenly having much less. As well as the rattle, their breathing may also become more erratic, their pulse weakened and their hands and feet may become cold, purple and blotchy. And in the final minutes, the eyes and mouth may remain open - as breaths could become more gasping.
Times of Oman
11-05-2025
- Health
- Times of Oman
Royal Hospital achieves highest quality standards in nuclear medicine endorsed by IAEA
Musca t: The Royal Hospital, represented by the Department of Nuclear Medicine, has completed the QUANUM programme (Quality Assurance Audit in Nuclear Medicine Practices) that was conducted by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The programme, held from 4 to 8 May 2025, set grounds for the first nuclear medicine centre in the Sultanate of Oman that undergoes this type of international assessment. The field assessment of the centre showed an outstanding score of 92.5 percent, exceeding the global average of 73.9 percent and going beyond the usual range of 56.6% to 87.9%.
