Breathing difficulty

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Breathing

Overview

Treatment

Breathing difficulty - lying down

Alternative Names:

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

Home Care:

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:

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:

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

Medical history questions documenting nocturnal dyspnea include the following:

Did this develop suddenly or slowly?
Is it getting worse (progressive)?
How bad is it?
How many pillows are required to breathe comfortably?
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.

Review Date: 1/24/2005
Reviewed By: Thomas A. Owens, M.D., Departments of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2004 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.