AllRefer Health - Caring for your Well Being  

Home | About | FAQs | Contact Us

AllRefer Channels :: Yellow Pages | Reference | Health  

Diseases & Conditions
Select & Go
 Diet & Nutrition
 Diseases & Conditions 
 Health News
 Injuries & Wounds
 Poisons & Overdoses
 Surgery & Procedures 
 Symptoms Guide
 Special Topics
 Tests & Exams
 Pictures & Images
 Medical Encyclopedia
Google
  Web health.allrefer.com   

You are here : AllRefer.com > Health > Diseases & Conditions > Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome (OHS)

Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome (OHS)

Provided by A.D.A.M.

Definition

Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors

Symptoms & Signs

Prevention

Diagnosis & Tests

Treatment

Expectations or Prognosis

Complications

Support Groups

Calling Your Health Care Provider

Pictures & Images

Go To Main Page

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.

Pictures & Images

Respiratory System
Respiratory System

 
     See all Pictures & Images
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.


<

^ Top

>


Jump to another section

Definition
Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
Symptoms & Signs
Prevention
Diagnosis & Tests
Treatment
Prognosis
Complications
Support Groups
Calling Your Health Care Provider
Pictures & Images

Review Date : 10/22/2003
Reviewed By : Allen J. Blaivas, D.O., Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, University Hospital, Newark, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

Main Page of Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome (OHS)







Featured Topics

Alzheimer's Disease

High Blood Pressure

Crohn's Disease

Impotence

Overactive Bladder


ADAM

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial reviewers. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2003 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

This website is certified by Health On the Net Foundation. Click to verify.
This site complies to the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.
Copyright © 2009 AllRefer.com All Rights reserved.
Health Topics: A-Al Am-Az B C-Cj Ck-Cz D E F G H I J K L M N O P-Pl Pm-Pz Q R S-Sl Sm-Sz T U V W X Y Z 0-9
About Us | Help | Privacy Policy | Editorial Policy | Advertising Policy | Accessibility | Terms of Use
Contact Us | Link to Us | User Satisfaction Survey | Healthopedia.com
Page Last Updated: 22 Nov, 2009