Breathing difficulty - lying down |
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Kalsang Dolma, M.B.B.S.[2]
Breathing difficulty while lying down is an abnormal condition in which a person must keep the head raised (by sitting or standing) to be able to breathe deeply or comfortably.
A specific type of breathing difficulty while lying down is paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea. This condition causes a person to wake up suddenly during the night feeling short of breath.
The health care provider will perform a physical examination and take your medical history.
Medical history questions may include:
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:
You may need to receive supplemental oxygen.
If you have any unexplained difficulty in breathing while lying down, call for an appointment with your health care provider.
Your health care provider may prescribe treatment for breathing difficulty while lying down. The treatment will depend on the specific illness causing the problem.
Weight loss is generally recommended in people who are obese.
Directions to Hospitals Treating Breathing difficulty - lying down
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003076.htm Template:WH Template:WS