First of all, yes, this is a tongue twister, I had to try it several times before I got it right, not to mention it sounds like a scary zombie disease! So what does it really mean? To break it down simply: paroximal means a sudden eruption or attack; nocturnal means night and shortness of breath is shortness of breath. Together, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea (PND) is the feeling of oxygen deprivation during sleep, a lack of oxygen causes a person to cough and wheeze, which significantly increases the diastolic pressure.
So it’s not a zombie disease, but most would say it’s scary. PND is a common symptom of congestive heart failure. A person suffering from PND needs urgent medical attention; Calling an ambulance is the immediate first step, but other treatments to suppress the episode may include taking nitroglycerin and diuretics.
PND has symptoms very similar to obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA), but it is not a separate and independent disease. PND is very different, it is a serious clinical syndrome directly related to acute heart failure.
People with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome have a significant decrease in the muscle tone of their airways during sleep, leading to airway obstruction. This causes episodes of apnea where breathing stops completely.
During such pauses, the oxygen content of the blood drops and signals are received in the respiratory center that the tissues are in a state of hypoxia. After 10-20 seconds the oxygen level in the blood drops to a minimum and this eventually causes the body to react to the situation. A micro stimulation of the brain increases the muscle tone of the upper airways that aids in inhalation. For a few seconds afterwards, the sleeper’s breathing remains frequent and deep. At this point, the person also experiences shortness of breath, although he may not wake up.
Causes of paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea?
Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea is common in older people with heart problems, but it can still occur in anyone who suffers from:
left ventricular failure in a period of exacerbation;
acute myocardial infarction;
acute myocarditis;
heart aneurysms;
postpartum cardiomyopathy;
cardiosclerosis;
mitral stenosis;
aortic regurgitation;
the presence of a large intracardiac thrombus or tumor.
The aggravating factors that can cause PND in a person with the above-mentioned medical problems are:
pneumonia;
kidney damage;
cerebral circulation disorders;
emotional overwork;
great dinner for the evening;
hypervolemia;
Quickly change from vertical to horizontal body position.
What are the symptoms of paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea?
The most common symptoms of PND are:
intermittent sleep;
dyspnea with physical exercises;
shortness of breath at night in lying position, but improves in sitting position;
wheezing cough;
production of sputum, sometimes with blood;
whistling in the lungs;
a constant feeling of shortness of breath;
chestpain;
arrhythmia;
swelling of the feet;
Fatigue and Drowsiness:
Usually an episode takes place in the following way: a person wakes up from a nightmarish dream, feels a tightness in the chest and wants to sit up, his breathing is deep and difficult. The narrowing of the bronchioles causes shortness of breath, making it difficult for the person to speak. When sitting, the person tends to lean slightly forward. Their skin turns pale from spasms of the superficial blood vessels, and sometimes they begin to sweat. PND can start suddenly and stop in the same way within half an hour. You was searching a while and couldn’t found for 9Mm Wadcutter links. Now you are right place we have updated our database regarding 9Mm Wadcutter login pages. The person may still experience shortness of breath in the morning when they wake up.
Why does paroxysmal night dyspnea cause these symptoms?
During sleep in a person with heart problems, body fluid begins to redistribute from the tissues to the blood, which accumulates during the day in the legs or in the abdominal cavity. This process is not fast, so after falling asleep there are no immediate symptoms. Paroxysmal dyspnea develops slowly after some time after falling asleep.
In people with heart failure, the left side of the heart doesn’t work at full capacity, so the small circle of blood circulation can’t handle the extra fluid volume. This volume remains in the excess vessels of the lungs. This extra volume then moves from the blood vessels to the lung tissue, leading to the development of interstitial pulmonary edema.
The most severe form of paroxysmal dyspnea is acute pulmonary edema, which develops as a result of increased pressure in the lung capillaries and leads to alveolar edema. Typical symptoms of pulmonary edema are acute shortness of breath, wet wheezing and bloody sputum. Acute pulmonary edema can quickly lead to death.
How to treat paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea?
Prior to treatment, a thorough medical evaluation is critical to determine the cause of paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea. A proper examination, examination of the medical history, chest X-ray, EKG, cardiac ultrasound and Doppler of the heart are crucial for an accurate diagnosis.
During the acute episode of paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, it is vital to call an ambulance because of the high risk of developing pulmonary edema. First aid for the person includes staying calm, placing the person in a semi-sitting position and soaking the feet in a warm bath. Give the person nitroglycerin under the tongue and repeat the medication every 5 to 10 minutes. If the attack is accompanied by pain and shortness of breath, painkillers may also be used. Additional therapy can be carried out based on the cause of the disease.
General recommendations to prevent paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea are: to stop smoking, reduce the weight of obese people and normalize blood pressure. A strict diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables and avoiding highly salty foods is also recommended. Oxygen therapy is an effective means of disease control, both for use in the hospital and at home.
Prevention of the disease consists in the timely treatment of chronic coronary artery disease and heart failure, hypertension, compliance with the water and salt regime, the prevention of infectious diseases.
A thorough medical evaluation should be performed to ensure the correct syndrome is diagnosed, so if you think you have symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea it could be PND so get it checked out by a doctor.
Mandita has been suffering from OSA syndrome for years, which caused her to snore excessively and loudly. Because it is an undisclosed sleep disorder, it was difficult for her to find information that would help her understand the causes and symptoms of the syndrome, as well as the treatments available.
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