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Dr Gérald Kierzek (Medical Director of Doctissimo)
Medical validation:
November 8, 2024
Having trouble falling asleep without a mound of pillows? Be careful, this habit could reveal a dangerous underlying illness. Details from Dr Gérald Kierzek, medical director of Doctissimo.
On the side, on the back, one hand under the cheek… We each have our own little habits for sinking into the arms of Morpheus. The problem ? A particular position could be a sign of heart disease, a doctor warns.
Respiratory discomfort linked to lying down
The problematic position? Lying on your back… surrounded by cushions. “If you have to lean on pillows while sleeping or wake up short of breath, make an appointment with a doctor“, warns Dr. Godeseth, cardiologist, in the columns of Sun.
Indeed, the discomfort felt when lying on your back can be a symptom of heart failure. This chronic disease develops when the heart can no longer provide sufficient blood circulation due to weakening of the heart muscle.
This explains why affected people feel ‘relieved’ when supported by a pile of pillows.
“Sometimes people [souffrant d’insuffisance cardiaque] experience a buildup of fluid in the lungs, which can make it difficult to breathe while lying down“, specifies Dr Godeseth.
A sign of heart failure but not only…
A warning shared by Dr Gérald Kierzek, medical director of Doctissimo.
“When you need pillows for sleepthis means that breathing is made easier. We are talking about orthopnea, that is to say a breathing difficulty which occurs when the person is in a lying position and which improves when sitting or standing. This symptom usually appears at night.
Orthopnea is often associated with pulmonary edema and heart failure, where fluid accumulates in the lungs when the patient lies down, invading the pulmonary alveoli and thus impairing breathing.
“It is frequently observed in cases of left heart failure, but can also occur in certain pulmonary diseases such as chronic obstructive bronchopathy or asthma.“, he warns.
Consult a doctor online for your sleep problems
Orthopnea: what to do? What good reflexes to adopt?
In case of orthopnea, you should not “make the patient lie down“, warns the National Academy of Medicine.
“In fact, the lying position increases the pressure in the upper branches of the pulmonary arteries and increases the diffusion ofedema in all parts of the lung, while the standing position reduces venous return and clears the apexes of the lungs, resulting in reduced dyspnea.
If orthopnea is related to heart failure, early diagnosis and treatment are necessary. In particular, diuretics may be prescribed to eliminate excess fluid.
Another possibility to improve cardiac function: the administration of angiotensin and neprilysin inhibitors (ARNI) or beta-blockers.
Whatever the case, the first reflex in the event of sleep problems or breathing difficulties is to turn to your doctor.
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