Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (Expert Forum)
Shortness of breath--difficulty breathing
by kinziecharm, May 27, 2009 10:33AM
My father is an 86 year old who was relative healthy prior to the death of our mother one year ago. He has very mild CHF and has seen pulmonary speciality and cardiologist. He continues to struggle with lack of oxygen at night, dry cough and labored breathing. We are at a loss as to how we can help him? He falls asleep contantly and has went from active life to sickness. We are not getting any help or answers in order for us to help him.
Doctor's Answer
by National Jewish Health, Jun 01, 2009 04:31PM
, Jun 01, 2009 04:31PMTo: kinzie
If he truly does have a confirmed “lack of oxygen” at night, the cause of his low oxygen levels needs to be determined with certainty and treated. It may turn out that he would benefit from the use of supplemental oxygen with sleep, but that should not be assumed.
That he “falls asleep constantly” suggests a sleep disturbance, such as what is called Sleep Apnea. The most common type of this disorder is what is called obstructive sleep apnea and this is characterized by heavy snoring and by the actual cessation of breathing, sometimes for 30-60 seconds or more. This is a treatable condition.
Other possibilities to be considered, and not necessarily the cause, would include: CHF that is actually more than “mild”, depression, gastroesophageal reflux (as a cause of cough). Between them, the cardiologist and pulmonary specialist should be able to diagnose the cause of your father’s respiratory symptoms and sleepiness. If they cannot, you should request a 2nd opinion from another lung specialist.
A lack of sleep could be responsible for many of his symptoms (sleepiness and lethargy) but you should ask his primary care physician to consider other possibilities for those particular symptoms, such as a hormonal deficiency.
Your father is clearly not capable of fending for himself, so you must be his advocate. Do not hesitate to ask questions of his doctors.
Good luck
That he “falls asleep constantly” suggests a sleep disturbance, such as what is called Sleep Apnea. The most common type of this disorder is what is called obstructive sleep apnea and this is characterized by heavy snoring and by the actual cessation of breathing, sometimes for 30-60 seconds or more. This is a treatable condition.
Other possibilities to be considered, and not necessarily the cause, would include: CHF that is actually more than “mild”, depression, gastroesophageal reflux (as a cause of cough). Between them, the cardiologist and pulmonary specialist should be able to diagnose the cause of your father’s respiratory symptoms and sleepiness. If they cannot, you should request a 2nd opinion from another lung specialist.
A lack of sleep could be responsible for many of his symptoms (sleepiness and lethargy) but you should ask his primary care physician to consider other possibilities for those particular symptoms, such as a hormonal deficiency.
Your father is clearly not capable of fending for himself, so you must be his advocate. Do not hesitate to ask questions of his doctors.
Good luck
