What causes shortness of breath at bedtime | Float (2023)

Acute heart failure what worsens

Heart failure is a condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. Heart failure does not mean that the heart has stopped or is about to stop working, but rather that the heart cannot pump blood as it should. This usually happens when the heart has been damaged by another medical condition.

Rarity:cru

Main symptoms:fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, shortness of breath on exercise

Urgency:Medical Emergency Service

dilated cardiomyopathy

ABSENT

Rarity:ultra rare

Main symptoms:

Urgency:hospital emergency

restrictive cardiomyopathy

restrictive cardiomyopathyrefers to a set of changes in the functioning of the heart muscle. These changes cause the heart to misinflate (more common) or miscompress (less common). Sometimes both problems are present.

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You should seek immediate medical attention in an emergency room, where an ultrasound can confirm the diagnosis, blood tests can determine the cause of the problem, and immediate treatment is needed to stabilize it.

Obstructive sleep apnea

Sleep apnea means "sleeping without breathing." This means that the person stops breathing briefly during sleep and wakes up abruptly due to lack of oxygen.

emObstructive sleep apnea, the airways relax and collapse during sleep. In central sleep apnea, the part of the brain that controls breathing may not send signals during sleep. In both cases, breathing stops and the patient is forced to wake up, sometimes hundreds of times a night.

Older and overweight people are more susceptible, as is anyone with enlarged tonsils.

Symptoms include loud snoring; constant awakening during sleep; and constant daytime sleepiness.

Ongoing sleep apnea leads to very poor sleep quality with little REM sleep. This is very stressful and can lead to high blood pressure, stroke, and heart arrhythmias. Daytime sleepiness can lead to car accidents.

Diagnosis is made by physical examination and sleep study.

Treatment consists of lifestyle changes and usually a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine, which allows the patient to sleep much better almost immediately.

iron deficiency anemia

Iron deficiency anemia means that the body does not have enough iron to make hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body.

The condition is caused by:

  • Acute blood loss from injury, surgery, or childbirth.
  • Chronic blood loss through an ulcer, excessive use of aspirin or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or heavy menstrual periods.
  • Inability to absorb iron from the diet due to surgery or intestinal disease or interference from certain medications.
  • A diet low in foods that provide iron.

Symptoms include fatigue, shortness of breath, lack of stamina, and chest pain with a fast, irregular heartbeat.

If not treated,iron deficiency anemiait can lead to heart disease because the heart needs to pump extra blood to get enough oxygen to the tissues. Developmental problems can also occur in children.

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Diagnosis is made by physical examination and blood tests.

Treatment includes a diet rich in iron-rich foods, such as red meat and dark green, leafy vegetables, along with iron supplements. Severe cases may require hospitalization for blood transfusions and/or intravenous iron therapy.

hyperventilation syndrome

Hyperventilation syndrome is a type of anxiety or panic attack in which the main symptom is rapid, shallow breathing that leads to decreased levels of carbon dioxide in the blood. These drops change the body's chemistry and cause discomfort.

Any type of fear or excitement that can trigger an anxiety attack can trigger hyperventilation syndrome.

Symptoms are worse in some patients than others, but include anxiety; dizziness; chest pain and tightness; numbness and tingling of the extremities; and a feeling of suffocation.

It is important to seek treatment for hyperventilation syndrome, as the symptoms can be debilitating and interfere with quality of life.

Diagnosis is made through a detailed patient history, as well as a complete physical examination and laboratory tests to rule out any other conditions.

Treatment consists of showing the patient that during an anxiety attack, simply breathing into a paper bag for a few minutes will relieve symptoms and allow for recovery. Psychological counseling, with an emphasis on stress management, is also helpful.

Rarity:common

Main symptoms:anxiety, shortness of breath, dizziness, rapid heartbeat, chest pain

Symptoms that always occur with hyperventilation syndrome:quick, deep breaths

Symptoms that never occur with hyperventilation syndrome:shortness of breath after a few stairs

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Urgency:primary attention doctor

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) stands for "abnormal thickening of the heart muscle." This can interfere with the heart's ability to pump blood.

Most often, an inherited gene mutation causes HCM. However, aging, high blood pressure, diabetes, or thyroid disease can sometimes cause this.

Many people do not have any symptoms. Some have unexplained chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting, or a feeling of a fast, pounding heartbeat because abnormally thick heart muscle interferes with the normal heartbeat and causes arrhythmia. Take the patient to the emergency room or call 9-1-1.

Untreated hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can lead to serious heart disease and even sudden cardiac arrest and death, especially in people under the age of 30.

The diagnosis is made by echocardiography; electrocardiogram; treadmill stress test; and/or cardiac MRI.

Treatment consists of medicines to relax the enlarged heart muscle and slow the rapid pulse. Surgery may be done to remove part of the thickened muscle, or a defibrillator may be implanted.

Anyone with a family history of HCM should see their doctor about screening for the condition, which involves periodic echocardiograms.

congestive heart failure

congestive heart failureHeart failure (CHF) is a form of heart failure that causes fluid to build up in the lungs and other tissues. Symptoms include shortness of breath and edema (swelling of the ankles, hands).

You should make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive inflammation of the lungs that makes breathing difficult. It is caused by prolonged exposure to irritating gases and/or dust particles, most often cigarette smoke.

Symptoms can take years to develop. They include chronic cough with mucus (sputum), wheezing, chest tightness, fatigue, constant colds, swollen ankles, and cyanosis (blue dizziness on the lips and/or fingernails). Depression is often a factor due to reduced quality of life.

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Treatment is important because there is an increased risk of heart disease and lung cancer in patients with COPD. While the condition cannot be cured, it can be managed to reduce risks and allow for a good quality of life.

COPD is commonly misdiagnosed and therefore careful testing is done. The diagnosis is made through the patient's history; Physical exam; lung function tests; blood test; and chest x-ray or computed tomography.

Treatment consists of stopping smoking and avoiding exposure to other lung irritants; use of inhalers to relieve symptoms; steroids; pulmonary therapies; and receive flu and pneumonia vaccines as recommended.

Aortic valve regurgitation

The aorta is the large blood vessel that leads directly from the heart. If the heart's aortic valve, which controls blood flow from the heart to the aorta, does not close tightly between heartbeats, some of the blood flows back into the heart instead of out into the aorta.

This condition can be present at birth or develop through calcium deposits that build up as a person ages. Other causes are diseases such as endocarditis, rheumatic fever or lupus.

Symptoms can take years to develop and include fatigue and dizziness; chest pain and shortness of breath during exercise; swollen feet and ankles; and pounding, irregular heartbeat.

Aortic valve regurgitationit can lead to heart failure, which is fatal. If the above symptoms are present, the person should see a doctor as soon as possible.

The diagnosis is made through the patient's history, physical examination, chest X-ray, stress tests, echocardiogram, and electrocardiogram.

Treatment involves lifestyle changes; some medications; and sometimes surgery to repair or replace the aortic valve.

Questions your doctor may ask about shortness of breath at bedtime

  • Have you felt more tired than usual, lethargic, or fatigued despite normal sleep?
  • Did you have a fever today or in the last week?
  • You have a cough?
  • Do you notice that your heart is beating hard, fast, or irregularly (also called palpitations)?

Self-diagnosis with ourbuoy attendantIf you answer yes to any of these questions.

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References

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