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Problems laying down

When I go to lay down, I start to hyperventilate.  I am told it is becauase they heart is not pumping  as efficiiently as it should.  I found that if I sleep on a wedge pillow, I can sleep normally.



This discussion is related to palpitations when laying down.
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367994 tn?1304953593
The symptom of hyperventilation can be a symptom of congested heart failure....especially if there is a dry cough as well.  The problem existed for me as the heart was not pumping strong enough to pump blood into circulation with each stroke. Blood backed up into the lungs causing fluids to leak into the lung tissues.

My condition was mild edema (congestion) so sitting up helped, but it can be a heart condition.  I wasn't aware of the overweight condition results in hyper...I wasn't overweight so I could rule that out if it happens again in the future.

Thanks for your question and if you have any follow-up questions or comments you are welcome to respond.  Take care
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237039 tn?1264258057
This is interesting to me, because I often complain that the coronary artery spasms I have wake me from a dead sleep.  I have wondered if this could be what I would describe as a "positional" problem.  It seems that if I lie on my left side with my arms draped in front of me it triggers a spasm.  I thought maybe my heart slows down and because of this my heart is deprived of oxygen.  But that is just a guess on my part.  I would like to research this more.
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1495448 tn?1326842830
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I'm sorry to hear you're having some difficulty.  You may have a condition such as obstructive sleep apnea or congestive heart failure.  Obstructive sleep apnea can occur in several settings, but most commonly in individuals who are overweight.  Lying at an incline can unload the lungs from the weight of the chest wall and abdomen.  In congestive heart failure, the pressure differences created by gravity when these patients lie flat on their back often leads to back up of fluid into the lungs and a subsequent feeling of breathlessness.  If you cannot lie flat without getting short of breath, you need to see your physician to work up the problem.  It is often a sign of a more serious underlying disorder.

Best of luck.
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