Agonal Breathing

Agonal breathing is when someone who is not getting enough oxygen is gasping for air. It is usually due to cardiac arrest or stroke. It’s not true breathing. It’s a natural reflex that happens when your brain is not getting the oxygen it needs to survive. 

Agonal breathing is a sign that a person is near death. It’s also a sign that the brain is still alive. People who have agonal breathing and are given CPR are more likely to survive cardiac arrest than people without agonal breathing.