“Final exhales?”
My mother rapidly exhaled in her final moment. She blew air out, let out a single tear, and went still. Is this normal when someone dies or is it due to shock/fear when the heart stops?
3 Answers
CardiologistCardiologist
The key to the scenario you described is the fact that all indications were pain and suffering disappearing. This sounds fairly normal for end of life. I refer to it as a celestial discharge.
When someone dies, there are common symptoms that they can experience. Some of these are different breathing patterns. This is a common breathing pattern that those in their last moment's display. These breathing patterns happen to those who die peacefully in their sleep. These breathing patterns are not a sign that she was fearful or in shock. She likely passed peacefully and comforted knowing you were by her side.
It is pretty typical, and the breathing does not usually indicate distress.
