While many are aware of classic heart attack symptoms—sudden chest pain, crushing pressure, and shortness of breath—orthopnea stands out as a quieter but equally urgent alarm. Dr. Obaidur Rahman emphasizes how often this sign is ignored despite affecting most heart attack patients.
Orthopnea refers to breathlessness during lying down due to blood pooling in the lungs from heart dysfunction. This causes restless waking, sweating, and nighttime discomfort, often misattributed to anxiety or acid reflux.
Those experiencing chronic orthopnea—needing extra pillows to sleep—should seek prompt medical attention, as it may predict imminent cardiac failure or heart attack. Dr. Rahman warns that ignoring this symptom can have fatal consequences.
His insight reminds us that heart attack prevention begins with listening closely to our body’s subtle messages.
