paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea

dyspnea /dysp·nea/ (disp-ne´ah) labored or difficult breathing.dyspne´ic

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paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea  respiratory distress that awakens patients from sleep, related to posture (especially reclining at night), attributed to congestive heart failure with pulmonary edema or sometimes to chronic pulmonary disease.

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paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea

n. Abbr. PND

Acute dyspnea caused by the lung congestion and edema that results from partial heart failure and occurring suddenly at night, usually an hour or two after the individual has fallen asleep.

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Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea (PND)

A form of dyspnea characterized by the patient's waking from sleep unable to breathe.

Mentioned in: Shortness of Breath

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paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea (PND),

a disorder characterized by sudden attacks of respiratory distress that awaken the person, usually after several hours of sleep in a reclining position. This occurs because of increased fluid central circulation with reclining position. It is most commonly caused by pulmonary edema resulting from congestive heart failure. The attacks are often accompanied by coughing, a feeling of suffocation, cold sweat, and tachycardia with a gallop rhythm. Sleeping with the head propped up on pillows may prevent PND, but treatment of the underlying cause is required to prevent fluid from accumulating in the lungs. Also called nocturnal paroxysmal dyspnea. See also dyspnea.

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paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea

Sleep disorders Dyspnea several hrs after a Pt with severe and decompensated CHF falls asleep, due to fluid accumulation in lungs, usually relieved by a short period of sitting up; PND may be sudden and awaken the sleeper