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What causes breathlessness when lying down?

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Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

Recently, I have been experiencing breathlessness. It happens mostly when I am idle or lying down. I feel no discomfort while running. But I feel like I am short of breath when I sit idle. I am a 23-year-old male. I am reasonably fit. I do not smoke, although I drink occasionally and moderately. I was diagnosed with a deviated nasal septum a few years ago. Sometimes, I use Otrivin and Nasonex nasal spray when I feel congestion and irritation in my nose.

Please help.

Thank you.
Answered by Dr. Amol Kumar Wasudeorao Diwan

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Amol Kumar Wasudeorao Diwan is a qualified Specialist in Pulmonary Medicine, Tuberculosis, and Respiratory Diseases with extensive years of clinical experience. He has a vast network of professional contacts in the medical field, an outstanding ability to provide healthcare with an emphasis on holistic approach, treating the patients as a physical, emotional, and social being, has an excellent bedside manner, and an admirable ability to establish rapport with the patient. He also has exceptional skills in imparting health related teachings for a complete and speedy recovery of his patients and has an incomparable critical thinking and analytical skills.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Consult other doctors in the same speciality

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

As per your history, you experience breathlessness while being idle and not during exercise, which suggests an airway problem. Supporting this, you also suffer from a deviated nasal septum, which may cause nasal obstruction and, in some cases, may cause breathlessness. Patients with allergic rhinitis may have underlying asthma. So, it is also important to rule out asthma.

A spirometry test helps to rule out asthma problems. If spirometry suggests any airway disease, then you can take the help of a local doctor for further information and treatment. For nasal problems, you can continue using the same nasal sprays.

I hope it helped with the query.

Please let me know if you have any more questions on your mind.

I would be happy to guide you.

Thank you.

Medically reviewed by iCliniq medical review team
Published At September 7, 2016
Reviewed At June 10, 2026

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Amol Kumar Wasudeorao Diwan is a qualified Specialist in Pulmonary Medicine, Tuberculosis, and Respiratory Diseases with extensive years of clinical experience. He has a vast network of professional contacts in the medical field, an outstanding ability to provide healthcare with an emphasis on holistic approach, treating the patients as a physical, emotional, and social being, has an excellent bedside manner, and an admirable ability to establish rapport with the patient. He also has exceptional skills in imparting health related teachings for a complete and speedy recovery of his patients and has an incomparable critical thinking and analytical skills.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Consult other doctors in the same speciality

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Dr. Amol Kumar Wasudeorao Diwan
Dr. Amol Kumar Wasudeorao Diwan

Allergy Specialist

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Amol Kumar Wasudeorao Diwan is a qualified Specialist in Pulmonary Medicine, Tuberculosis, and Respiratory Diseases with extensive years of clinical experience. He has a vast network of professional contacts in the medical field, an outstanding ability to provide healthcare with an emphasis on holistic approach, treating the patients as a physical, emotional, and social being, has an excellent bedside manner, and an admirable ability to establish rapport with the patient. He also has exceptional skills in imparting health related teachings for a complete and speedy recovery of his patients and has an incomparable critical thinking and analytical skills.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Consult other doctors in the same speciality
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