What does "Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea" mean in a report or doctor's letter? In our medical dictionary, you will find a patient-friendly explanation of the meaning of this medical term.
Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea is a medical term for sudden, severe shortness of breath that wakes a person from sleep. This usually happens a few hours after the person has fallen asleep. It's often a sign of a serious heart condition, where the heart struggles to pump enough blood to the body. The person may need to sit up or stand to catch their breath.
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