Orthopnea refers to a symptom in which shortness of breath occurs while lying down. This can cause people to awake in the middle of the night in order to catch their breath. Sometimes, orthopnea is a sign of an underlying medical problem. There are to manage the causes of orthopnea.
Heart Failure
Heart failure refers to a medical problem in which the heart no longer presents enough blood to the entire body. Symptoms of heart failure include orthopnea, swelling of the ankles or feet, weakness and fatigue. MedlinePlus says heart failure also causes indigestion, poor appetite, weight gain, trouble sleeping and a pounding heartbeat (palpitations). Sometimes, people with heart failure may develop trouble concentrating, vomiting, nausea and the urge to urinate.
Heart failure may be due to coronary artery disease, a condition in which blood vessels in the heart become obstructed due to plaque (cholesterol) accumulation. Other causes of heart failure include heart valve disease, a weakened heart muscle (cardiomyopathy), congenital heart failure and abnormal heart rhythms (arrythmias).
Conservative treatment for heart failure involves limiting salt in the diet, exercising daily and eating a well-balanced diet of fruits and vegetables. Medications such as captopril, hydrochlorothiazide, digitalis glycosides, losartan and carvedilol can be taken to manage heart failure symptoms. Sometimes a pacemaker, intra-aortic balloon pump or a left ventricular assist device may be implanted in order to help treat heart failure.
Cor Pulmonale
MedlinePlus says cor pulmonale refers to a condition in which the right side of the heart begins to fail as a result of chronic high blood pressure in the lung's arteries (pulmonary arteries) and right lower portion (right ventricle) of the heart.
Symptoms of cor pulmonale include orthopnea, chest discomfort and swelling of the ankles or feet. Cor pulmonale also causes wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath with exercise.
Some causes of cor pulmonale include obstructive sleep apnea (temporary cessation of breathing while sleeping), interstitial lung disease, cystic fibrosis (lung disease) and kyphoscoliosis (curvature of the back bones).
Treatment for cor pulmonale involves taking such drugs as bosentan, calcium channel blockers and prostacyclin to manage its symptoms. Oxygen therapy may also be given to help with breathing. A heart and lung transplant may be necessary in severe cases.
COPD
COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) refers to a group of lung diseases in which breathing becomes increasingly difficult. The Mayo Clinic says emphysema and bronchitis make up COPD.
COPD symptoms include orthopnea, wheezing, chest tightness, increased respiratory infections, a chronic cough productive of yellow sputum and frequent throat clearing.
Treating COPD involves quitting smoking and taking such medications as bronchodilators, inhaled steroids and antibiotics. Sometimes, supplemental oxygen therapy may be given to help with breathing. In other cases, surgery may be needed to remove part of the lung or replace it.
