How to sleep with shortness of breath

Lying flat can make chest congestion or fluid-related breathlessness feel more noticeable. Reflux, nasal blockage, asthma and sleep-related breathing problems can also disturb sleep. Breathlessness that wakes you repeatedly can occur with heart or lung conditions, including asthma, COPD or atrial fibrillation; the symptom does not prove any one diagnosis.

Tell a clinician whether you wake gasping, need several pillows, snore loudly, have pauses noticed by another person, or feel unusually sleepy during the day. These details help guide examination and testing.

Raise your upper body with pillows or a wedge, or rest on your side if that feels easier. Keep the room free of smoke and strong fragrances, and follow any prescribed inhaler plan exactly. Avoid taking sedating medicines or using oxygen unless a clinician has advised it. Keep a note of the time symptoms start, your position and associated cough, wheeze or chest discomfort.

Arrange a medical appointment if this is recurring, getting worse, or affecting sleep. Evaluation may include listening to the lungs, checking oxygen level and reviewing heart or lung symptoms.

Call emergency services for severe breathlessness, blue or grey lips, confusion, collapse, new heavy chest pressure, or difficulty speaking. Seek urgent help for sudden breathlessness, coughing blood, or breathlessness with one-sided chest pain. Remain upright while waiting and do not travel alone if symptoms are severe.

Ask: Is my position-related breathlessness linked to asthma, COPD, reflux or another cause? Should I be checked for sleep-related breathing problems? Which medicines are safe at night? What should I do if I wake gasping?