Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea (PND) causes sudden shortness of breath during sleep. As a result, you wake up gasping for air. It tends to occur within a few hours after you’ve fallen asleep.

Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea is a condition that causes a person to experience a sudden shortness of breath during sleep. Learn more about the symptoms, causes, and treatment options here.

Paroxysmal means that the symptoms come on quickly and pass just as quickly. Nocturnal means that symptoms occur at night, and dyspnea is the medical term for breathing difficulties.