orthopnea

Or or·thop·noe·a

[awr-thop-nee-uh, awr-thop-nee-uh, -thuhp-]

noun

Pathology.

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

Other Word Forms

• orthopneic adjective
• orthopnoeic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of orthopnea¹

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.

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