MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Breathing difficulty

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Breathing difficulty - lying down

Contents of this page:
Illustrations Alternative names Definition Considerations	Common Causes Home Care Call your health care provider if What to expect at your health care provider's office

Illustrations

Breathing

Alternative names Return to top

Waking at night short of breath; Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea; PND; Difficulty breathing while lying down; Orthopnea

Definition Return to top

Breathing difficulty while lying down is an abnormal condition in which a person must keep the head elevated (such as by sitting or standing) to be able to breathe deeply or comfortably (orthopnea), or the person awakens suddenly during the night feeling short of breath (paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea).

Considerations Return to top

For people with some types of heart or lung problems, this is a common complaint. Sometimes the problem is subtle and is only noticed when the person realizes that sleep is more comfortable with lots of pillows under the head or in a propped up position.

Common Causes Return to top

Heart failure
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Panic disorder
Hypertensive heart disease
Obesity (does not directly cause difficulty breathing while lying down but often aggravates other conditions)
Sleep apnea
Snoring
Cor pulmonale

Home Care Return to top

Your health care provider may prescribe therapy to treat breathing difficulty while lying down.

Weight reduction is generally recommended in cases of obesity.

Call your health care provider if Return to top

If you have any unexplained difficulty in breathing while lying down, call for an appointment with your health care provider.

What to expect at your health care provider's office Return to top

The health care provider will perform a physical examination and will obtain your medical history.

Medical history questions documenting nocturnal dyspnea include the following:

Ttime pattern
- Did this develop suddenly or slowly?
- Is it getting worse (progressive)?
Quality
- How bad is it?
- How many pillows are required to breathe comfortably?
Aggravating factors
- Is there any ankle, feet, and leg swelling?
- Does the person have difficulty breathing at other times?
- How tall is the person? How much do they weigh?
What other symptoms are also present?

The physical examination will include special attention to the heart and lungs (cardiovascular and respiratory systems).

Diagnostic tests that may be performed include the following:

Supplemental oxygen may be administered.

Update Date: 5/4/2003

Updated by: Bridget Martell, M.D., Department of Internal Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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