The Connection between Obesity and Breathing

What Is Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome?

Obesity hypoventilation syndrome is another name for Pickwickian syndrome. It is a breathing disorder and affects people who are obese. Usually, carbon dioxide, a by-product of breaking down food for energy, is exhaled. But obesity hypoventilation syndrome causes increased carbon dioxide and decreased oxygen in the blood. People may also have sleeping problems because of obstructive sleep apnea and the features of obstructive sleep apnea include Obesity, daytime hypoventilation, and disordered breathing during sleep. If this condition is not treated, it can lead to severe life-threatening complications, and the lack of oxygen can cause strain on the heart. Treatment can improve the quality of life and decrease the chances of further complications due to untreated obstructive sleep disorder.

How Is Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome Classified?

Obesity hypoventilation syndrome is a type of breathing disorder. Two subtypes depend on the nature of disordered breathing. The first type is obstructive sleep apnea which occurs with five or more episodes of apnea, respiratory-related arousals, or hypopnea during sleep. The second type is obstructive sleep apnea due to sleep hypoventilation syndrome. In this, there is a rise in CO2 levels after sleep. Most people fall into the first type of disordered breathing.

How Does One Get It?

Obesity hypoventilation syndrome is observed in people who have Obesity. Being overweight increases the risk of developing this syndrome. It is also observed that people with obesity hypoventilation syndrome also have sleep apnea. Yet it is not clear why obesity hypoventilation syndrome affects a few people having Obesity and not others. It could be because of the extra fat present on the neck, chest, and across the abdomen, which can make the person difficult to breathe and can affect the body’s breathing patterns. It could also affect the way the brain controls breathing. It is found that nearly one out of three adults is overweight, and one out of ten adults is obese. Studies have reported that the prevalence of OHS is between 8% to 20% in obese patients, and they are referred to sleep centers for evaluation of disordered breathing during sleep. The occurrence of OHS is more prevalent in women than in men.

What Are the Associated Symptoms of Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome?

The symptoms associated with obesity hypoventilation syndrome include:

• Headaches.

• Breathlessness.

• Dizziness.

• Feeling sluggish during the day.

• Fatigue.

• Extreme tiredness.

• Depression.

• Loud snoring.

• Choking or gasping.

• Trouble breathing at night.

• Sleep apnea.

• Poor sleep quality.

• Daytime sleepiness.

Other signs and symptoms include:

• The difficulty of the heart pumping the blood.

• Accumulation of fluid in the skin of legs, abdominal cavity, chest pain, and decreased exercise tolerance.

• Increase in jugular venous pressure.

• Palpable parasternal heave.

• Heart murmur due to leaking of blood in the tricuspid wall.

• Hepatomegaly.

• Lef edema and ascites.

• Cor pulmonale.

How Is Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome Diagnosed?

Obesity hypoventilation syndrome can be a combination of many different factors. If the person is suspected of having obesity hypoventilation syndrome, then the healthcare provider might suggest a few tests:

• Perform a complete physical examination.

• Calculate body mass index.

• Measurement of neck and waist circumference.

• Size of height and weight.

• Lung tests measure the amount of oxygen in the body or check the functioning of the lungs.

• Sleep study for the diagnosis of sleep apnea.

How Is Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome Treated?

In people suffering from obesity hypoventilation syndrome, the essential treatment includes weight loss by maintaining a regular diet, practicing meditation, and exercising. Obesity hypoventilation syndrome can be treated in different ways that have:

• Making healthy lifestyle changes by maintaining a healthy weight and being physically active.

• CPAP is a helpful treatment for such patients. Use continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine or any other breathing device at night. CPAP delivers constant positive pressure to the airways and helps to prevent the collapse of the soft tissues in the throat during breathing. It can be administered through a mask either by mouth or the nose. It helps relieve the signs of obstructive sleep apnea and removes the accumulation of carbon dioxide. Using this can help one increase blood oxygen levels and keep their airways open. CPAP has benefited more than 50 % of people.

• Weight loss surgery or medications can also be done. Losing weight can help to reverse obesity hypoventilation syndrome. Bariatric weight loss surgery can be done.

• Tracheostomy is another option for treating OHS. In this procedure, a small opening is created in the neck that will help breathe through a breathing device.

What Are the Complications of Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome?

The complications of obesity hypoventilation syndrome include:

• Increased accident risk.

• Depression.

• Anxiety.

• Irritability.

• Right-sided heart failure.

• High blood pressure.

• Pulmonary hypertension.

Conclusion:

This syndrome can result in a defect in the brain’s ability to control breathing. If this obesity hypoventilation syndrome is untreated, it can lead to blood vessels, heart disease with severe disability, or death. In the modern world, where sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy eating habits pave way to morbid obesity, one ought be mindful about the conditions like obesity hypoventilation syndrome and do the needful to regulate one's bodyweight.