orthopnea /ôrthop″nē·ə/ [Gk, orthos + pnoia, breath] , an abnormal condition in which a person must sit or stand to breathe deeply or comfortably. It occurs in many disorders of the cardiac and respiratory systems, such as asthma, pulmonary edema, emphysema, pneumonia, congestive heart failure, and angina pectoris. Assessment includes noting the number of pillows used by the patient. Patients with orthopnea also report sleeping in recliners. Also spelled orthopnoea. See also dyspnea. −orthopneic, adj.
