text: what makes someone wheeze when they are laying down making them wake up coughing?   are you sure it's "wheezing"?  some people have orthopnea.  that is a condition in which it is difficult to breathe when lying down.  some people have excess fluid in their body, and when they lay down, the fluid accumulates around the lung area and central abdominal area... which makes it harder to breathe. this would explain why the person would cough when they sit up.. the fluid is in the lungs.. and that is an autonomic response-- to cough the secretions out.  it may sound like wheezing.. but it may be "crackles" or "rhonchi" fluid rattling in the lungs.   sometimes, weight plays an issue.  it can depend how much weight is pressing on the chest.. it compresses the lungs making it harder to breathe.  i suggest sleeping on several pillows to decrease the fluid in the lungs.. and/or the weight on the chest. i hope this helps!  :-)