What is orthopnoea?

What is orthopnoea?

• A. Dyspnoea occurring when lying flat, relieved by sitting or standing.
• B. Sudden breathlessness waking from sleep.
• C. Shortness of breath only during exercise.
• D. Cough with sputum during the night.

Answer: (A)

Orthopnoea is difficulty breathing that occurs when lying flat and is relieved by sitting up or standing. This happens because lying down increases venous return to the heart and promotes fluid redistribution into the chest, worsening pulmonary congestion and making breathlessness more noticeable. Elevating the head or torso with sitting upright reduces venous return and helps clear the lungs, improving breathing. It’s commonly seen with left-sided heart failure or fluid overload, and patients may sleep propped up on pillows to ease symptoms. The other patterns describe different breathlessness scenarios: sudden breathlessness waking from sleep points to paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, exertional shortness of breath occurs only with activity, and night-time cough with sputum suggests a different cause like asthma, COPD, or reflux.

Orthopnoea is difficulty breathing that occurs when lying flat and is relieved by sitting up or standing. This happens because lying down increases venous return to the heart and promotes fluid redistribution into the chest, worsening pulmonary congestion and making breathlessness more noticeable. Elevating the head or torso with sitting upright reduces venous return and helps clear the lungs, improving breathing. It’s commonly seen with left-sided heart failure or fluid overload, and patients may sleep propped up on pillows to ease symptoms. The other patterns describe different breathlessness scenarios: sudden breathlessness waking from sleep points to paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, exertional shortness of breath occurs only with activity, and night-time cough with sputum suggests a different cause like asthma, COPD, or reflux.