Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea is commonly seen in which diagnosis?

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Multiple Choice

Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea is commonly seen in which diagnosis?

Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea is a classic manifestation of left-sided heart failure (congestive heart failure). When someone with CHF lies down, fluid from the legs shifts into the central circulation, raising left atrial and pulmonary capillary pressures. This provokes pulmonary edema and hypoxemia, causing sudden, severe shortness of breath that wakes the person at night. Elevating the head or sitting up reduces venous return and improves the symptoms. While other conditions can cause shortness of breath, the abrupt nocturnal episodes are most characteristically seen with CHF; pulmonary embolism presents with sudden onset dyspnea and chest pain, rather than nighttime paroxysms.

Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea is a classic manifestation of left-sided heart failure (congestive heart failure). When someone with CHF lies down, fluid from the legs shifts into the central circulation, raising left atrial and pulmonary capillary pressures. This provokes pulmonary edema and hypoxemia, causing sudden, severe shortness of breath that wakes the person at night. Elevating the head or sitting up reduces venous return and improves the symptoms. While other conditions can cause shortness of breath, the abrupt nocturnal episodes are most characteristically seen with CHF; pulmonary embolism presents with sudden onset dyspnea and chest pain, rather than nighttime paroxysms.

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