North Carolina EMT State Practice Exam

What is orthopnea?

1. Death of tissue

2. Difficulty breathing in flat positions

3. Paresthesia

4. Coughing up blood

The correct answer is: Difficulty breathing in flat positions

Orthopnea refers specifically to the difficulty breathing that a person experiences when lying flat. This condition often leads individuals to prop themselves up with pillows or sit in an upright position in order to breathe more easily. It is commonly associated with conditions such as heart failure or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), where fluid accumulation or increased pressure in the lungs makes it challenging to breathe when lying down. Understanding orthopnea is important for EMTs and healthcare providers as it can provide critical insights into a patient's cardiovascular or respiratory status. Recognizing that a patient must sit upright to breathe properly can help inform the assessment and treatment options for underlying conditions. The other options, while they may refer to medical terms or symptoms, do not accurately delineate the specific breathing difficulty associated with orthopnea.