What is "platypnea"

n. (context medicine English) shortness of breath that occurs when the patient is upright. The word is derived from the Greek platus (= flat) and pnoia (=breath).

Platypnea is shortness of breath (breathlessness) that is relieved when lying down, and worsens when sitting or standing up. It is the opposite of orthopnea. The condition was first described in 1949 and named in 1969. The word is derived from the Greek platus (= flat) and pnoia (=breath).

A related condition, orthodeoxia, describes the clinical finding of low oxygen saturation in the upright position, which improves when lying down.

Platypnea and orthodeoxia often co-exist, and this combination is named platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome. The syndrome is considered extremely rare.