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Suggest Treatment For Paroxysmal Nocturnal Dyspnoea
Posted on
Thu, 12 Feb 2015
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Thu, 12 Feb 2015
Answered on
Mon, 2 Mar 2015
Last reviewed on
Question : 36 weeks 5 days pregnant.
This has just started happening tonight. about an hour or so after I lay down to sleep I wake up gasping for air. My throat closes over and I make these terrible sounding wheezes as I struggle to get air in and out. It lasts about 30 seconds then disappears and I can breathe again. Its not like i just cant catch my breath, its like im drowning. It's horrendous.
This has just started happening tonight. about an hour or so after I lay down to sleep I wake up gasping for air. My throat closes over and I make these terrible sounding wheezes as I struggle to get air in and out. It lasts about 30 seconds then disappears and I can breathe again. Its not like i just cant catch my breath, its like im drowning. It's horrendous.
Brief Answer:
Some more details please ?
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for writing to us with your health concern.
You are having some form of air hunger.
Has this ever happened before ?
For how many hours has this been happening ?
This sometimes happens in pregnancy, due to hormonal changes, anxiety and the pressure of the uterus on your chest.
Prop yourself up with 2 - 3 pillows.
Open up the windows and let natural air inside the room, even if cold ( cover yourself adequately if cold ).
Put on some soothing music.
Try some relaxing , meditative chants.
Have your partner / relative / child lie down next to you and talk to you.
This should help.
Leave on the lights if you feel it might help.
If this continues, you need to go to the ER to rule out a respiratory / cardiac issue.
Have you ever had such wheezing / air hunger before ?
Some more details please ?
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for writing to us with your health concern.
You are having some form of air hunger.
Has this ever happened before ?
For how many hours has this been happening ?
This sometimes happens in pregnancy, due to hormonal changes, anxiety and the pressure of the uterus on your chest.
Prop yourself up with 2 - 3 pillows.
Open up the windows and let natural air inside the room, even if cold ( cover yourself adequately if cold ).
Put on some soothing music.
Try some relaxing , meditative chants.
Have your partner / relative / child lie down next to you and talk to you.
This should help.
Leave on the lights if you feel it might help.
If this continues, you need to go to the ER to rule out a respiratory / cardiac issue.
Have you ever had such wheezing / air hunger before ?
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
I haven't experienced this before. It makes me jump out of bed trying to get air. My bp is high (154/106) which my dr gave me medication for... but it's still high. Google told me it could be PND... do you think this may be PND and should I call my obstetrician to tell him?
Brief Answer:
Not likely to be PND, but see your doctor.
Detailed Answer:
PND , I assume, you are talking about paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea.
This just does not happen out of the blue.
Your symptoms are typically those of PND, but PND has an underlying respiratory disorder / cardiac issue as the reason.
It is not something that manifests out of the blue
Do you have any history of respiratory or cardiac ailments ?
You are having pregnancy induced hypertension, so you should see your obstetrician in any case, as you might be developing some cardiac issues with your high blood pressure.
You need an ECG and lung evaluation at the very least.
Not likely to be PND, but see your doctor.
Detailed Answer:
PND , I assume, you are talking about paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea.
This just does not happen out of the blue.
Your symptoms are typically those of PND, but PND has an underlying respiratory disorder / cardiac issue as the reason.
It is not something that manifests out of the blue
Do you have any history of respiratory or cardiac ailments ?
You are having pregnancy induced hypertension, so you should see your obstetrician in any case, as you might be developing some cardiac issues with your high blood pressure.
You need an ECG and lung evaluation at the very least.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
Answered by
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