It is likely more distressing to the family and loved ones to hear the death rattle than it is to the patient experiencing it. If your loved one experiences end-stage wet respirations, here are some practical things you can do to minimize or eliminate it: Try changing the patient's position.
carbon dioxide - a heavy odorless colorless gas formed during respiration and by the decomposition of organic substances; absorbed from the air by plants in photosynthesis.
Photo by: Anton Bryksin. Carbon dioxide is a chemical compound consisting of one part carbon and two parts oxygen and represented by the chemical formula CO 2 . For a number of reasons, carbon dioxide is one of the most important gases on Earth. Plants use carbon dioxide to produce carbohydrates (sugars and starches) in the process known as photosynthesis.