How to Overcome Shortness of Breath at Night

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How to Overcome Shortness of Breath at Night
How to Overcome Shortness of Breath at Night
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Shortness of breath at night is often annoying. Not only does it interfere with the time and quality of sleep, but also has an impact on productivity in the morning. How to deal with shortness of breath at night?

Shortness of breath can indicate heart, lung, or various other he alth problems. However, to determine the cause of shortness of breath at night, a doctor's examination needs to be done.

How to Overcome Shortness of Breath at Night - Alodokter
How to Overcome Shortness of Breath at Night - Alodokter

Recognizing Shortness of Breath at Night

When shortness of breath occurs several hours after sleeping, this condition is known as paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea or PND, which is a breathing disorder that causes sudden shortness of breath during sleep. As a result, you may wake up suddenly gasping for breath.

Then, is shortness of breath at night the same as sleep apnea or sleep apnea? The answer is no.

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that causes a person's breathing to temporarily stop for several times during sleep because the brain doesn't send the signals needed to breathe properly.

This is characterized by snoring and still feeling sleepy even after a long sleep. Meanwhile, shortness of breath during sleep can be caused by sleep apnea, but not vice versa.

Causes of Shortness of Breath at Night and How to Treat It

Shortness of breath at night can be caused by the following:

  • Allergies
  • Heart failure
  • Respiratory disorders
  • Kidney failure
  • stomach acid rises
  • Anxiety disorder
  • Panic attack

Treatment of shortness of breath at night depends on what causes it. Basically the goal of treatment is more focused on managing stress and improving your sleep quality.

To relieve mild shortness of breath at night, you can sleep using two pillows or a higher head position as a temporary solution.

If this condition is caused by heart failure, a number of medical treatments, such as diuretic therapy or heart medication will be given, even surgery can be performed.

If the complaint is caused by a respiratory system disorder, a number of remedies can relieve shortness of breath at night. One of them is to take long-term asthma medication, if the cause is asthma.

If shortness of breath at night caused by stomach acid can be treated with lifestyle and dietary changes, or taking antacid drugs.

Prevent Shortness of Breath at Night

As previously explained, shortness of breath at night is a symptom of various he alth problems, ranging from acid reflux disease, to more serious conditions, such as respiratory problems or heart failure.

For this reason, the preventive steps that need to be taken are to avoid these various he alth problems by changing their lifestyle to become he althier, such as:

  • Quit smoking.
  • Maintain ideal body weight
  • Limit consumption of fatty foods, increase consumption of fruits, vegetables, foods rich in fiber and protein
  • Limit s alt consumption
  • Exercise enough
  • Manage stress

Don't hesitate to consult a doctor regarding the shortness of breath you experience at night. The reason is, this can indicate a serious he alth problem, especially if it is accompanied by several symptoms, such as blue lips and fingers, swelling in the leg area, flu, or wheezing when breathing.

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