Screening And Examination Test 1 Practice

Which term describes sudden dyspnea and orthopnea while sleeping?

Dyspnea Apnea Systole Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea

Correct Answer:

Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea

Explanation:

Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea describes sudden episodes of breathlessness that wake you up during sleep. It happens after lying down because venous return to the heart increases, raising pulmonary capillary pressure and causing pulmonary congestion. This pattern is classic for left-sided heart failure, and the dyspnea is often relieved by sitting up or standing. The term specifically captures both the abrupt nighttime onset and the need to change position to feel better. General dyspnea is just any shortness of breath and not tied to the nocturnal, paroxysmal pattern. Apnea means a temporary pause in breathing, not breathlessness. Systole is a phase of the cardiac cycle, not a symptom describing nocturnal breathlessness.

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