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a chest infection. being overweight. smoking. a panic attack. But sometimes shortness of breath could be a sign of something more serious, such as: a lung condition called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) scarring of the lungs known as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. heart failure. lung cancer.
- Heart Failure
damage or other problems with the heart valves; congenital...
- Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
breathing (lung function) tests; blood tests; a chest X-ray...
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (Copd)
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the name for...
- Asthma
Asthma is a common lung condition that causes occasional...
- Obesity
Living with overweight and obesity can also affect your...
- Heart Attack
A heart attack (myocardial infarction or MI) is a serious...
- Chest Infection
Treatment from a GP for a chest infection. Treatment for a...
- Lung Cancer
an ache or pain when breathing or coughing; You should see a...
- Heart Failure
- Overview
- When to get emergency care
- Why can’t I breathe at night when lying down?
- Lung conditions
- Allergies
- Heart conditions
- Sleep apnea
- Anxiety and panic attacks
- Other causes
- How is shortness of breath at night diagnosed?
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You may find yourself short of breath at night for several reasons. The primary causes are conditions affecting the lungs or the heart. It can also happen from asthma, allergies, or anxiety.
Shortness of breath, also called dyspnea, can be a symptom of many conditions. In some cases, shortness of breath can also happen at night. To treat it, you need to understand the cause.
Sudden and severe shortness of breath at night can mean a serious condition. Seek prompt care if you:
•can’t catch your breath when lying flat
•experience worsening or prolonged shortness of breath that doesn’t go away or gets worse
You should also seek immediate medical attention if your shortness of breath occurs with:
•blue lips or fingers
•swelling near your feet
Shortness of breath can occur if your body can’t adequately pump oxygen into your blood. Your lungs may be unable to process the intake of oxygen, or your heart may not be able to pump blood effectively.
Chronic shortness of breath occurs when you experience the symptom for more than a month. About 85% of conditions triggering chronic shortness of breath are related to your lungs, heart, or mental health.
Shortness of breath when you lie down is called orthopnea. When it occurs after a few hours of sleep, it is called paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea.
Read on to learn about common causes of nighttime shortness of breath.
Asthma
Asthma occurs because of inflammation in your lungs. This leads to breathing difficulties. You may experience nighttime shortness of breath related to your asthma because: •your sleeping position puts pressure on your diaphragm •mucus builds up in your throat, causing you to cough and have difficulty breathing •your hormones change at night •your sleeping environment triggers your asthma Asthma can also be triggered by conditions like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Allergies can cause allergic rhinitis, which can cause postnasal drip. This can irritate your throat and cause congestion, leading to coughing and difficulty getting a full breath.
Asthma is also closely related to allergies. Exposure to allergic triggers in your sleeping environment — like dust, mold, and pet dander — may also trigger your allergy symptoms, which may, in turn, exacerbate asthma symptoms.
Heart failure and related conditions
Shortness of breath is the most commonly reported symptom of congestive heart failure. It happens because your heart can’t pump blood at a sustainable level. You may develop heart failure for many reasons. Risk factors include an unhealthy diet, diabetes, certain medications, smoking, and obesity. A condition that can lead to a heart attack is coronary artery disease. You may experience shortness of breath from a heart attack, chest pain and tightness, sweating, nausea, and fatigue. You should seek medical care immediately if you suspect you’re having a heart attack. Other conditions associated with heart failure include high blood pressure, trauma to the heart, inflammation, or irregular heart rate.
Sleep apnea is a condition that occurs during sleep and causes narrowing airways and a low oxygen level. You awaken throughout the night to take deeper breaths, preventing you from getting adequate sleep.
You may feel like you’re gasping for air during the night or wake up in the morning feeling tired. You may also have headaches or feel irritable.
Anxiety or stress can correlate with nighttime shortness of breath.
Feeling anxious can trigger a fight-or-flight response in your body and cause a panic attack. You may struggle to take breaths, feel faint, and become nauseous during a panic attack.
Several other conditions may cause nighttime shortness of breath. These include:
•acid reflux
•other lung conditions, such as interstitial lung disease or pulmonary edema
•lung cancer, or cancer of the blood vessels or bone marrow
•kidney failure
•tumor in the heart
Your doctor will perform a physical exam and ask you about your health and family history when determining the cause of your shortness of breath. Often, your doctor will be able to diagnose the condition just based on this initial exam. Doctors can diagnose 66% of cases of shortness of breath just on clinical presentation.
You may need to undergo more testing to diagnose the cause. Your doctor may order the following tests:
•pulse oximetry
•chest radiography
•electrocardiography
•spirometry
Learn about the possible causes of nighttime shortness of breath, such as lung, heart, or sleep conditions. Find out how to diagnose and treat this symptom and when to seek emergency care.
- Natalie Silver
Sleep apnoea is when your breathing stops and starts while you sleep. The most common type is called obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). Sleep apnoea needs to be treated because it can lead to more serious problems. Check if you have sleep apnoea. Symptoms of sleep apnoea mainly happen while you sleep. They include: breathing stopping and starting
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- Amanda Barrell
- Heart failure. Share on Pinterest. Hiraman/Getty Images. One of the most common causes of orthopnea is heart failure. In heart failure, the heart can no longer pump blood to the rest of the body as well as it should.
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) COPD is a serious lung condition that comprises a group of diseases, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
- Obesity. People with excess weight or who live with obesity may have difficulty breathing when lying down. As fat builds up in the body, it can affect the shape and function of the respiratory system and other structures.
- Obstructive sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) involves breathing difficulties while sleeping. There are different types of sleep apnea. However, they all have similar symptoms.
These conditions may cause breathlessness for different reasons. If your heart isn’t pumping enough oxygen-containing blood around the body, your body responds by breathing faster to try to get more oxygen into your body, making you feel short of breath. Or if your heart isn’t working as well as it should, this could cause a build-up of ...
Shortness of breath symptoms. Shortness of breath symptoms vary and can include: feeling as if you need to breathe more frequently, or faster. a tight feeling or pressure in the chest. feeling like it’s hard to catch your breath. feeling like you can’t take a full breath. a sense of being starved of oxygen. feeling as if you are suffocating.
May 20, 2024 · A problem with your lungs or airways. Sudden breathlessness could be an asthma attack. You’ll feel breathless because it’s difficult to move air in and out of your airways. Your GP may advise you to use a spacer device with your inhaler to help your breathlessness. Pneumonia (lung inflammation) may also cause shortness of breath and a cough.
