Because of a lapse in government funding, the information on this website may not be up to date, transactions submitted via the website may not be processed, and the agency may not be able to respond to inquiries until appropriations are enacted. The NIH Clinical Center (the research hospital of NIH) is open. For more details about its operating status, please visit cc.nih.gov. Updates regarding government operating status and resumption of normal operations can be found at opm.gov.

NLM Logo

Dyspnea, Paroxysmal MeSH Descriptor Data 2026


MeSH Heading
Dyspnea, Paroxysmal
Tree Number(s)
C08.618.326.396
C14.280.434.313
C23.888.852.371.396
Unique ID
D004418
RDF Unique Identifier
http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/D004418
Scope Note
A disorder characterized by sudden attacks of respiratory distress in at rest patients with HEART FAILURE and PULMONARY EDEMA. It usually occurs at night after several hours of sleep in a reclining position. Patients awaken with a feeling of suffocation, coughing, a cold sweat, and TACHYCARDIA. When there is significant WHEEZING, it is called CARDIAC ASTHMA.
Entry Term(s)
Asthma, Cardiac
Dyspnea, Paroxysmal Nocturnal
Paroxysmal Nocturnal Dyspnea
NLM Classification #
WG 370
Date Introduced
1966/01/01
Last Updated
2021/10/18
Dyspnea, Paroxysmal Preferred
Asthma, Cardiac Narrower
Paroxysmal Nocturnal Dyspnea Narrower
page delivered in 0.143s