Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea (PND) is a condition that affects many people during their sleep. When these folks dive into the land of their dreams, the condition can cause sudden and severe shortness of breath, which is why the condition is associated with heart failure. The feeling of not getting enough air can be so intense that the person suffering could wake up gasping.
In other words, PND is certainly something that you don’t want or need in your life. PND is actually a symptom of an underlying medical condition. When PND kicks in for a person who’s sleeping, the condition will improve if he or she sits upright.
Thanks to MedicalNewsToday.com, we can learn more about what PND is, what symptoms it has, the causes behind the condition itself, and the risk factors.
What are the PND symptoms?
The symptoms that PND triggers can be very uncomfortable, and the list includes:
- Insomnia
- Coughing after waking up
- Gasping for air
- Anxiety
What are the risk factors of PND?
If you are at risk of dealing with heart or lung conditions, you could also develop Paroxysmal Nocturnal Dyspnea (PND). Here are some of the risk factors for heart failure
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Low activity levels
- Obesity
- High cholesterol
- Coronary heart disease
- A previous heart condition
- Alcohol and tobacco use
- Eating unhealthy
When it comes to risk factors for lung disease, we can consider:
- Allergens
- Smoking
- Air pollutants
What are the causes of PND?
Heart and lung conditions are the causes for about 90% of the dyspnea cases.
Heart failure
When the heart has trouble pumping blood throughout our body, heart failure can occur. If our heart stops working the right way, the body will release and produce renin, which is an enzyme responsible for triggering fluid and sodium retention. As a result, swelling kicks in if the heart can’t handle the extra amount of fluid. Then, it will accumulate in the lungs, causing the awful feeling of shortness of breath.
Lung conditions
There are respiratory conditions that cause PND, such as:
- Pneumonia, which is an inflammation of the lungs
- asthma, which refers to a chronic condition
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease referring to a variety of lung conditions responsible for breathing problems.
Other causes
If you’re wondering what are other health conditions that could cause PND, we can mention kidney disease, acid reflux, and psychogenic disorders.
Treatment
You will be given treatment for your PND, depending on what might have caused it. If you have to treat the condition while heart failure is to blame, your doctor will ask you to make a few lifestyle changes. You will need to quit smoking, consume healthy foods, as well as maintain a moderate weight.
As for medications needed in case you’re dealing with PND as a result of heart failure, you will be given beta-blockers, angiotensin II receptor blockers, angiotensin-receptor neprilysin inhibitors, and more.
In some cases, surgery or special implanted devices might be needed during the treatment.
If on the other hand, your PND occurs because of a lung condition, your doctor will have to prescribe you asthma medication or use a continuous positive airway pressure machine to facilitate your breathing process during sleep.
In the end, you should always consider scheduling an appointment at your doctor’s office in case you’re dealing with PND. Furthermore, showing signs of heart failure requires urgent emergency medical care.
