Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome (OHS)
Alternate Names : Pickwickian Syndrome
Definition
Obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) is a condition related to (but can occur separately from) obstructive sleep apnea. In OHS, a very obese person does not breathe a sufficient amount of oxygen during sleep or while awake.
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Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
The cause of OHS in unknown, but it likely involves a combination of a disorder in the brain's control over breathing and the effects of obesity on the chest wall. With the excess weight of massive obesity, the muscles of the chest wall can have difficulty expanding the chest enough to exchange air efficiently.
This results in a decreased ability to oxygenate the blood, and the retention of carbon dioxide (see respiratory acidosis). Affected individuals suffer from chronic fatigue due to sleep loss, poor sleep quality, and chronic hypoxia (decreased blood oxygen).
Morbid (massive or excessive) obesity is the main risk factor.
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