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Breathing difficulty - lying down

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Breathing

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Breathing difficulty - lying down

Definition:

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

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

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Considerations:

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:

• 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

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