What does 'orthopnea' indicate in cardiac patients?

Orthopnea is a specific medical term used to describe difficulty in breathing when a patient is lying flat. This condition is often associated with heart failure and other cardiac problems, as fluid can accumulate in the lungs when the body is in a supine position, leading to increased shortness of breath. Cardiac patients often find it necessary to sleep with multiple pillows or in a sitting position to alleviate this discomfort.

Understanding orthopnea is crucial for clinicians, as it can serve as an indicator of worsening heart failure or pulmonary congestion, helping guide treatment decisions. Recognizing how positional changes affect a patient's breathing is an important assessment in managing cardiac patients, highlighting the relationship between posture and respiratory function in this population.