Difficulty breathing at night

If you experience difficulty breathing while asleep, you're not alone. Many people have trouble breathing at night, and it can be caused by a number of different illnesses and conditions. Physical ailments such as lung disease, asthma, bronchitis, or emphysema (em-fih-SEE-mah) often cause shortness of breath and wheezing. Heart conditions such as congestive heart failure, angina, or an irregular heartbeat may also contribute to breathing difficulties. In addition, you may have a disorder known as sleep apnea (AP-nee-uh), which causes your breathing passages to become temporarily blocked at night. People who suffer from this condition generally fall asleep easily, but then stop breathing, and wake up gasping for air. Other symptoms of sleep apnea include coughing, wheezing, snoring, and shortness of breath. If you experience these or any other unusual symptoms, you should report them to a physician. In many cases, a physician can diagnose your problem, and recommend an effective treatment program. For more information, consult a health care provider in your area.