Breathing difficulty while lying down is an abnormal condition. A person with this condition must keep the head elevated (by sitting or standing) to be able to breathe deeply or comfortably. The condition may also cause a person to wake up 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
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
-
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) -
Cor pulmonale -
Heart failure -
Hypertensive heart disease - Obesity (does not directly cause difficulty breathing while lying down but often aggravates other conditions)
-
Panic disorder -
Sleep apnea -
Snoring
