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What Causes Shortness Of Breath Which Awakens A Person From Sleep?
Question: Hello Doctor,
In last couple of months, I have suffered from breathlessness in night, I used to get woken from sleep because of this problem. However, after couple of hours, I managed to get some sleep. - This has happened about twice in about last two months.
Since the last problem 30 days before, I quit smoking and have never faced similar situation, however occasionally I get an indication of the problem.
I also have constipation and usually take khayam churna in the night after food to solve this.
Off-late, I'm trying to get regular physical exercise done.
In the interest of health, I got General health check up done and report is attached for your perusal. Please help me with your thoughts.
In last couple of months, I have suffered from breathlessness in night, I used to get woken from sleep because of this problem. However, after couple of hours, I managed to get some sleep. - This has happened about twice in about last two months.
Since the last problem 30 days before, I quit smoking and have never faced similar situation, however occasionally I get an indication of the problem.
I also have constipation and usually take khayam churna in the night after food to solve this.
Off-late, I'm trying to get regular physical exercise done.
In the interest of health, I got General health check up done and report is attached for your perusal. Please help me with your thoughts.
Brief Answer:
Get cardiac evaluation
Detailed Answer:
Welcome to Healthcaremagic.
Hi, I am Dr Anshul Varshney , I have read your query in detail , I understand your concern.
I have seen the attached reports and they are grossly normal.
There are two possibilities for the type of breathlessness you have:
1. Bronchial Asthma.
2. Cardiac issues causing Cardiac asthma.
Breathlessness in night which awakens you from sleep is usually a sign of Heart Failure and is called as Paroxysmal Nocturnal Dyspnea (PND) and this PND required evaluation.
The breathlessness can also be due to bronchial asthma, for which a clinical examination of chest is required, and if your doctor finds out any wheezes in your chest, he will evaluate you for the same.
I would advise in such scenario:
1. ECG
2. Chest Xray
3. Pulmonary Function Test
4. ECHO
If cardiac issues are found you would be treated accordingly, else you will be treated for asthma.
Your doctor would evaluate you clinically. If you don't have severe chest congestion, he would treat you with anti-allergic drugs like Levocetrizine and Montelukast. He may add deriphylline or doxophylline for the chest spasms.
If your chest congestion is very severe and there are wheezes, then inhalers containing bronchi dilators like Salbutamol would be required.
You might also require short dose of Steriod inhaler like Budenoside.
In case, your clinical examination and all the above discussed investigations are normal, you will be treated for anxiety, that can also cause breathlessness.
This is my personal opinion based on details available here. If you still have any other query, you may please ask me.
Stay Healthy.
Dr Anshul Varshney , MD
Get cardiac evaluation
Detailed Answer:
Welcome to Healthcaremagic.
Hi, I am Dr Anshul Varshney , I have read your query in detail , I understand your concern.
I have seen the attached reports and they are grossly normal.
There are two possibilities for the type of breathlessness you have:
1. Bronchial Asthma.
2. Cardiac issues causing Cardiac asthma.
Breathlessness in night which awakens you from sleep is usually a sign of Heart Failure and is called as Paroxysmal Nocturnal Dyspnea (PND) and this PND required evaluation.
The breathlessness can also be due to bronchial asthma, for which a clinical examination of chest is required, and if your doctor finds out any wheezes in your chest, he will evaluate you for the same.
I would advise in such scenario:
1. ECG
2. Chest Xray
3. Pulmonary Function Test
4. ECHO
If cardiac issues are found you would be treated accordingly, else you will be treated for asthma.
Your doctor would evaluate you clinically. If you don't have severe chest congestion, he would treat you with anti-allergic drugs like Levocetrizine and Montelukast. He may add deriphylline or doxophylline for the chest spasms.
If your chest congestion is very severe and there are wheezes, then inhalers containing bronchi dilators like Salbutamol would be required.
You might also require short dose of Steriod inhaler like Budenoside.
In case, your clinical examination and all the above discussed investigations are normal, you will be treated for anxiety, that can also cause breathlessness.
This is my personal opinion based on details available here. If you still have any other query, you may please ask me.
Stay Healthy.
Dr Anshul Varshney , MD
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I'm planning to visit consultant, who specialization doctor should be consulted for this problem?
Brief Answer:
Internal Medicine Specialist
Detailed Answer:
Hi, for these issues, you need to visit an Internal Medicine specialist, who is Consultant Physician that is MD Medicine.
Good Luck.
Internal Medicine Specialist
Detailed Answer:
Hi, for these issues, you need to visit an Internal Medicine specialist, who is Consultant Physician that is MD Medicine.
Good Luck.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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