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Breathing Problems at Night Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment

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Breathing problems at night
Contents

OVERVIEW:

Breathing problems happen when you feel you can't get enough air into your lungs. The medical term for difficult or uncomfortable breathing is dyspnea.

There are many causes of breathing problems at night. Diseases of the lungs and heart are the most common, but anxiety, allergies, asthma and sleep apnea can also play a part.

A sudden attack of breathing difficulty at night can be serious. If it comes on suddenly or makes it hard to talk, call 911 or your local emergency number.

Causes of Breathing Problems at Night

Lung Conditions

  • Asthma

Asthma causes swelling and narrowing of the airways. Attacks can be triggered by allergens like pollen and dust, and symptoms are often worse at night. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can also make asthma worse.

  • COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a group of lung diseases, such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis. It can cause trouble breathing at night, cough, chest tightness and wheezing.

  • Pneumonia

Pneumonia is an infection of the lung tissue. People with pneumonia often have cough, fever, tiredness and shortness of breath.

  • Pulmonary hypertension

Pulmonary hypertension is high blood pressure in the blood vessels of the lungs. It can cause shortness of breath, including when lying down.

  • Pulmonary embolism

Pulmonary embolism is a blood clot in an artery of the lungs. It can cause sudden shortness of breath and chest pain and is a medical emergency.

Heart Conditions

There are varieties of heart conditions like

  • coronary artery disease
  • angina pectoris
  • ischemic heart disease
  • left heart failure
  • Myocarditis
  • Myopathies

which can cause breathing problems at night. During an angina attack you may feel chest tightness, chest pain, nausea, tiredness, and pain in the arms or jaw.

With heart failure, the heart can't pump blood well enough. Fluid can build up in the lungs, which makes it hard to breathe when lying flat.

Miscellaneous

Other causes of breathing problems at night are anxiety and panic attacks. These symptoms usually ease once the attack passes.

Obstructive sleep apnea happens when the throat muscles relax during sleep and narrow or block the airway. Breathing pauses repeatedly, which disrupts sleep.

What Are The Signs And Symptoms?

The shortness of breath at night can be really serious and may indicate a serious condition. You may have trouble sleeping. Many people with these problems prefer to sleep propped up, because lying flat makes breathing harder.

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The Other signs and symptoms which are experienced by the patient are:

  • bluish color of the lips or fingertips
  • pale complexion
  • swelling of feet
  • swelling of lower back
  • high pitched sound when he is breathing
  • wheezing
  • chest tightness
  • fever
  • fatigue
  • flu like symptoms

Bluish lips or fingertips, or severe trouble breathing, need emergency care. For other symptoms, see your health care provider as soon as possible.

How to Diagnose Breathing Problems at Night?

As soon as you suffer breathing difficulties you should reach your health care provider. Your physician will perform a physical examination of yours and take a brief history which may include few questions like

  • How long have you had breathing problems?
  • Does changing position affect your breathing?
  • Do you have a family history of shortness of breath?
  • Are you allergic to pollen, or do exercise or tobacco smoke make it worse?
  • Are the symptoms mild, moderate, or severe?
  • What treatment do you take when you suffer shortness of breath at night?
  • How long does an attack last?
  • How many times does it happen per week?

After the exam and history, your provider may order tests to find the cause. These may include:

  • Complete blood count
  • Chest X-ray
  • Echocardiogram
  • Electrocardiogram
  • Spirometry (lung function tests)
  • Exercise stress testing
  • CT scan of the chest
  • Sleep studies (polysomnography), sometimes as a split-night study

How Can You Treat Your Condition?

The treatment of shortness of breath depends upon the cause which is causing the breathing problems at night.

heart failure:

Your doctor may advise lifestyle changes like quitting smoking, staying at a healthy weight, limiting salt and eating a heart-healthy diet. They may also prescribe medicines such as diuretics (water pills), beta-blockers and other heart failure drugs. Treatment depends on your specific condition.

asthma:

Whenever the breathing difficulty is due to asthma, your doctor will advise you to stay away from the triggering factors. Sleeping with your head raised on pillows may help you breathe more comfortably. Your doctor may prescribe inhalers to control asthma and a rescue inhaler for attacks.

COPD:

Treatment for COPD may include inhalers, pulmonary rehabilitation and, for some people, oxygen therapy. Quitting smoking is the most important step, and it helps to follow the treatment plan from your health care provider.

Pneumonia:

Bacterial pneumonia is treated with antibiotics, while viral pneumonia may need other care. Rest, fluids and fever medicine can help. Recovery time varies, and some people need hospital care.

Anxiety and panic attacks:

Breathing problems at night

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Treatment for anxiety and panic attacks may include talk therapy, breathing exercises and avoiding triggers. A doctor may also prescribe medicine, such as an antidepressant (for example, citalopram).

Positional therapy

For some people with sleep apnea, sleeping on the side helps keep the airway open. One method is to attach a ball to the back of a sleep shirt so you don't roll onto your back. Many people need a CPAP machine, which keeps the airway open with air pressure.

When to Seek Medical Help?

Call 911 or your local emergency number if breathing difficulty comes on suddenly, makes it hard to talk, or comes with chest pain or bluish lips or nails.

See your health care provider soon if you have breathing problems at night along with fever, a cough with mucus, wheezing, chest tightness, or swelling in your feet or lower back. Describe all your symptoms so they can find the cause and the right treatment.

HP Thoughts: If you suspect that either you, a friend, or a close relative is afflicted with tuberculosis, then don't waste time! Call a doctor or proceed to the nearest hospital and have yourself or others diagnosed before the condition worsens. What if the ailment becomes more life-threatening? How would you cope? Read our post regarding an advanced stage of tuberculosis: Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Pathogenesis.

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