Breathing difficulty - lying down

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Breathing

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

Your health care provider may prescribe treatment to treat breathing difficulty while lying down. The treatment will depend on the specific illness causing the problem.

Weight reduction is generally recommended in cases of obesity.

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

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 problem develop suddenly or slowly?
• Is it getting worse (progressive)?
• How bad is it?
• How many pillows do you need to help you breathe comfortably?
• Is there any ankle, feet, and leg swelling?
• Do you have difficulty breathing at other times?
• How tall are you? How much do you 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:

• ECG
• Pulmonary function tests
• Chest x-ray
• Echocardiogram

Review Date: 01/18/2007
Reviewed By: Benjamin W. Van Voorhees, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.