Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea is related to orthopnea and people with heart failure may experience this condition. These frightening episodes occur when the person is in a deep sleep and result in sudden, often panicked awakening. Whereas orthopnea occurs shortly after lying down, shortness of breath from paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea begins a few hours into sleeping and, like orthopnea, only resolves with sitting or standing.

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