orthopnoea

/ɔrˈθɒpniə/

orthopnoea

English Noun

Definition

Shortness of breath when lying flat, causing the person to have to sleep propped up in bed or sitting in a chair.

Etymology

From ortho- + -pnoea, from Ancient Greek ὀρθόπνοια (orthópnoia, “breathing only in an upright posture”), from ὀρθός (orthós, “straight”) + πνοή (pnoḗ, “breath”).