People who experience this condition often have to sleep with their heads propped up on pillows. Trigger points are a big, tricky topic. Some individuals with asthma experience symptoms mostly in the evening, and notice shortness of breath when resting to sleep. The person will start using two or three pillows to prop themselves up while in bed so that they can breathe easier. For dust mite allergens, you can try using allergen-friendly covers for mattresses and pillows. People who have left heart failure may experience shortness of breath when lying flat (orthopnea). Learn more about a new technology that can destroy these pollutants. These different types of pulmonary edema can cause slightly different symptoms, but all of them involve severe, abnormal shortness of breath that can happen when you’re lying down. You may have shortness of breath for a variety of reasons, such as heart disease if your heart cannot pump enough blood to supply oxygen to your body. This is true for adults as well as children who suffer from asthma. Orthopnea is the medical term for shortness of breath when lying down. Shortness of breath has lots of different causes. 1) Shortness of breath because of problems with the lungs, such as: 2) Problems with the airways that lead to the lungs, which may cause shortness of breath: 3) Shortness of breath because of problems with the heart that may include: 4) Other causes for shortness of breath may include: If you are waking up with shortness of breath at night, this is not normal. The reasons for these nighttime symptoms are debated, but shortness of breath at night may indicate undiagnosed asthma. It can also occur with obesity. Shortness of breath when you lie down is … In this article, read more about why you may have shortness of breath at night and learn possible solutions to try on your own after talking with your physician. The truth is that recurring episodes of sudden shortness of breath at night or in the early morning hours is an important sign of asthma (Ukena, Fishman & Niebling, 2008). 33: Dyspnea; Approach to the Patient: Dyspnea). One potential cause is a condition called paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea (PND), according to the NLM. This condition causes a person to wake up suddenly during the night feeling short of breath. Breathing consists of two phases. Obesity is associated with a variety of changes in the normal physiology of respiration, including smaller lung volumes and an increased effort required to generate a normal rate and depth of ventilation. The same applies to shortness of breath when lying down flat or specifically at night while asleep. Sleep Apnea. Top Home Remedies for Asthma: Do They Actually Work? Obesity. All orthopnea needs to be evaluated by a medical professional. If you have COPD, it's likely your breathlessness is a sign this condition has suddenly got worse. Most cases of shortness of breath are due to heart or lung conditions. The reasons for these nighttime symptoms are debated, but shortness of breath at night may indicate undiagnosed asthma. Shortness of breath is a common problem during pregnancy. All orthopnea requires a thorough medical evaluation, but rapid-onset orthopnea merits emergency medical attention. Causes for shortness of breath while lying down may include: COPD; Cor pulmonale (when the right side of the heart fails) Heart failure; Panic disorder; Sleep apnea; Snoring; The above reasons relate to why it could be difficult to breathe while lying down in general. A number of lung conditions can cause shortness of breath that worsens when lying down. You may feel more breathless lying down because the fluid in your lungs moves with gravity, making more of your lungs wet (think of liquid in a bottle upright and then lying on its side). This condition causes a person to wake up suddenly during the night feeling short of breath. Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, is another cause of orthopnea. One potential cause is a condition called paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea (PND), according to the NLM. it happens when i think about my shortness of breath. After discussing with your doctor, taking these environmental measures may help with shortness of breath at night and help improve indoor air quality. Unexplained shortness of breath or breathing difficulties that are accompanied by chest pain or pressure, fainting or nausea could be a sign of a more serious medical condition. However, both may occur at the same time and for the same reasons. When an asthma attack happens, the lining of the airways swell and the muscles that surround the airways become tight, which reduces the amount of air that can pass through. You might even awaken and find yourself coughing or wheezing. Tintinalli's Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide, Seventh Edition; Judith Tintinalli, M.D., et al. If the shortness of breath is more severe, the person may begin sleeping in a chair or recliner. According to the EPA, air pollution can make it harder to breathe and can cause symptoms like coughing, wheezing, chest discomfort, and a burning feeling in the lungs. Shortness of Breath Fluid buildup in the lungs (pulmonary edema) can cause breathing difficulties (dyspnea) which is usually notable when the person lies down or exercises. 33: Dyspnea; Approach to the Patient: Dyspnea). However, one common reason for these symptomsâasthmaâhas not been discussed yet in this article. Dr. Bernard Seif answered 39 years experience Clinical Psychology Common causes include a cold or chest infection, being overweight, and smoking. Obesity is also associated with shortness of breath, which is typically worse when laying flat. This may occur with waking up coughing and/or wheezing, having a rapid heart rate, and a feeling of being suffocated. PND could be caused by congestive heart failure or COPD. Shortness of breath resulting from CHF may worsen when lying flat because blood that pools in your legs while upright puts extra strain on the heart when you lie down. If so, you may want to monitor when air pollution levels are high through AirNow. Called “pannus,” this phenomenon prevents the lungs from inflating fully. Another allergen could be pet dander if pets are allowed in the bedroom. Common causes for difficulty breathing when lying down are: panic disorder; snoring; respiratory infections; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) sleep apnea When Air Pollution Gets Worse: 10 Tips to Protect Yourself, Molekule-Approved Gifts for Expecting Parents. As in asthma, during acute COPD exacerbations patients may complain of orthopnea, and may assume a "tripod" position, sitting up and leaning forward with their hands on their knees, in order to relieve their breathlessness. Shortness of breath with exertion. A number of lung conditions can cause shortness of breath that worsens when lying down. Help? This condition will cause you to wake up suddenly during the night and feel short of breath. Research (Sublett, 2011) has shown that using an air purifier placed right by the bed in the âsleep breathing zoneâ can be beneficial. When experiencing difficulty breathing or wheezing when lying down, you may also have a cough or heart palpitations. The Symptoms of Acid Reflux & Fatty Liver, American Heart Association: About Heart Failure, American Heart Association: Obesity Information. This idea that outdoor air pollution can make asthma worse has been known for decades. Please note that this article is only about recurring symptoms*, and if you have breathing difficulty that comes on suddenly or seriously interferes with your breathing, then you should seriously consider going to the emergency room or calling 911. They are small patches of sensitive muscle tissue, maybe caused by a “micro cramp,” or possibly neurological hypersensitivity. Posted by 3 hours ago. If you have shortness of breath at night, you should see your doctor. If you do have shortness of breath at night, you should first talk to your doctor about the problem. Your heart and lungs are involved in transporting oxygen to your tissues and removing carbon dioxide, and problems with either of these processes affect your breathing. Trigger points — better known as muscle knots — can cause shortness of breath. Causes for shortness of breath while lying down may include: The above reasons relate to why it could be difficult to breathe while lying down in general. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, Eighteenth Edition; Dan L. Longo, M.D., et al. A number of lung conditions can cause shortness of breath that worsens when lying down. If you have sensitive airways, your asthma symptoms could be triggered by breathing in substances called allergens. “That is the most common presenting symptom,” says Vallerie McLaughlin, M.D., director of the Pulmonary Hypertension Program at the University of Michigan Frankel Cardiovascular Center. When laying flat, your abdominal contents redistribute, causing a greater degree of mechanical obstruction for the diaphragm. If you have a child, you can try special steps to improve your childâs bedroom if they have asthma. Chest pain and shortness of breath are two different symptoms. Our article looks into what may be causing your shortness of breath when lying down. Shortness of breath that comes on suddenly (called acute) has a limited number of causes, including: The first phase is the inspiration phase. 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