Pickwickian Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome (OHS) Causes Tiredness
Obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS), aka pickwickian syndrome is a condition in which poor breathing leads to lower oxygen levels and higher carbon dioxide levels in the blood. Most with this syndrome are obese, but not all suffering obesity have it.
OHS is believed to caused by a defect in control over breathing and excessive weight against the chest wall, which makes it more difficult to take a deep breath. As a result, the blood has too much carbon dioxide and not enough oxygen.
Symptoms of Pickwickian syndrome include:
- cyanosis
- tiredness
- enlarged liver
- flushed red face
- chronic hypoxia
- sleep disturbances
- high blood pressure
- exercise intolerance
- excessive daytime sleepiness
- abnormally high red blood cell count
- shortness of breath due to elevated blood carbon dioxide pressure
Obesity hypoventilation syndrome is a cause for chronic respiratory acidosis as well. Those with pickwickian syndrome are often tired due to:
- sleep loss
- poor sleep quality
- chronic low blood oxygen
The major health problem that occurs with Pickwickian syndrome is sleep apnea. Complications associated with untreated sleep apnea include:
- anxiety
- irritability
- headaches
- arrhythmias
- hypertension
- peripheral edema
- abnormal blood levels of oxygen & carbon dioxide
Weight loss can reverse OHS. If left untreated, pickwickian syndrome can lead to serious heart and blood vessel problems, severe disability or death.
Pickwickian syndrome tiredness can be prevented by maintaining a healthy weight and an exercise regime.
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