What exactly is Pickwickian Syndrome?

What’s this disorder and how did it get its name?

Obesity hypoventilation syndrome is often seen in obese individuals. Their excessive weight results in strong pressure against the chest surfaces. Eventually, respiration is disrupted. This syndrome is described as an obese person’s lack of ability to breathe deeply or rapidly enough. For this reason, the blood has lower oxygen level and increased carbon dioxide concentration. This often brings about sleep disruption.

Most syndromes are named after the medical professional who initially discovers it. It’s not the case with Obesity hypoventilation syndrome. The name develops from a literary personality by Charles Dickens. In Dickens’s 1837 novel “The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club,” a character called Joe exhibited each one of the indications of the condition. The character was obese and acquired trouble sleeping. Though it is called as such, most doctors nowadays think of it as obesity hypoventilation disorder.

What are the signs and symptoms? What effect does it have on health?

People experiencing the syndrome typically deal with poor sleep quality or lack of sleep. This inadequate sleep results in daytime sleepiness. Other symptoms consist of trouble staying awake in the daytime and extreme sleepiness. Sometimes, it may also result in depression, irritability, and headaches. Drowsiness and headaches come from the increased amount of carbon dioxide in the blood stream. Low oxygen levels in the bloodstream can also cause heart strain.

Individuals with OHD fight to stay awake in the daytime. They end up drifting off to sleep while doing easy everyday duties. We have seen reports linking the sleepiness brought on by the Obesity hypoventilation syndrome to auto accidents. This is what’s called driving drowsiness, and it may lead to deadly mishaps.

What are the treatment methods?

As the syndrome is related to obesity, the most apparent therapy is shedding pounds. This can be achieved through common ways such as exercising and calorie restriction. For extreme cases, weight-loss surgical procedure is sometimes necessary.

Weight loss, mainly in the case of the obese, is a challenging thing to undertake. It requires plenty of commitment, specifically for those who work full-time jobs. Aside from the difficulty finding the time, weight loss regimens also take a lot effort. It’s really a slow process – not instant. Physicians have realized this, and it is the reason why they have think of a number of treatment plans for breathing aid. These methods involve the utilization of special machines, which can be invasive or non-invasive. It’s up to the person to select which solution to use. Of course, choosing the alternative should never be done solely by the patient. It is best to speak with a physician or specialist before you take action.

It’s also crucial to remember that the signs and symptoms of OHD have been found in non-obese individuals. Anyone showing signs and symptoms of OHD, obese or not, should get checked by a doctor. Treatment is important to restore the person’s regular sleep cycle.

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