Dyspnea refers to sudden and severe shortness of breath, or difficulty in breathing.
Breathlessness normal after exercise or exertion and resolves on rest, but suddenly and unexpectedly is warning sign of an underlying medical condition.
TYPES OF DYSPNEA | ||
NOCTURNAL DYSPNEA | Dyspnea occurs at night (paroxysmal) time.A strong predictive value for congestive heart failure patients. | |
ORTHOPNEA | Dyspnea occurs when a patient lies down in supine position (Recumbent position) Mostly occurs in COPD, asthma or heart failure patients. | |
PLATYPNEA | Breathlessness occurs in upright position for example sitting from supine.Found in patients with basilar pulmonary fibrosis. | |
TREPOPNEA | Breathlessness only occurs on right or left lateral lying position but not in supine.Occurs with patients in heart diseases. |