orthopnea

American  

[awr-thop-nee-uh, awr-thop-nee-uh, -thuhp-] / ɔrˈθɒp ni ə, ˌɔr θɒpˈni ə, -θəp- /

Or orthopnoea

noun

Pathology.

1. difficult or painful breathing except in an erect sitting or standing position.

---

Other Word Forms

• orthopneic adjective
• orthopnoeic adjective

Etymology

Origin of orthopnea

1650–60; < Greek orthópnoia, equivalent to orthópno ( os ) breathing upright ( ortho- ortho- + pno ( ḗ ) breath + -os adj. suffix) + -ia -ia

Example Sentences

He tells me that he looked up articles on orthopnea, the medical term for having to be in an upright position in order to breathe easily.

From New York Times