Pickwickian Syndrome And Its Consequences On The Human Sleep Cycle

What is this syndrome about and just how did it get its name

?

This syndrome is often found in obese people. Their excessive weight results in intense pressure against the chest walls. Thus, breathing is interrupted. This syndrome is marked by an obese person's difficulty in breathing deeply or fast enough. For that reason, the blood has less oxygen and more carbon dioxide concentration. This often leads to sleep disruption.

Most syndromes are named after the doctor who first discovers it. This isn't true with Pickwickian syndrome. The name is derived from a literary character by Charles Dickens. It is because in Dickens's 1837 novel CThe Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club," a man named Joe exhibited all the the signs of the disorder. The guy was obese and encountered difficulty in sleeping. Though it is named as such, the majority of doctors today call it obesity hypoventilation disorder.

What are the indicators? What consequences does it have on health?

People that suffer from the syndrome often experience poor sleep quality, resulting in a lack of sleep. This lack of sleep then leads to too much daytime sleepiness. Other symptoms include difficulty staying awake throughout the day and extreme drowsiness. Occasionally, it can also cause depression, irritability, and headaches. Drowsiness and headaches are generated by the increased level of carbon dioxide in the bloodstream. Low oxygen levels in the bloodstream can also lead to heart strain.

People that have OHD have a hard time staying awake throughout the day. People who suffer from it end up drifting off to sleep while performing regular day to day tasks. There have been reports linking the tiredness caused by the Pickwickian syndrome to car accidents. This is what's called driving drowsiness, and it may be responsible for fatal accidents.

What are the ways to treat it?

Because the syndrome is linked with obesity, the most apparent treatment is weight loss. This can be accomplished through common ways such as diet and exercise. For serious cases, weight loss surgery could be necessary.

Weight loss, specially in the case of the obese, is a hard thing to accomplish. It will take a lot of commitment, especially for those that work regular jobs. Apart from the difficulty finding the time, weight loss programs also take time and effort. It's a gradual process - not quick. Doctors have acknowledged this, and it's the reason they have come up with treatment methods for breathing assistance. These methods involve the use of special machines that are invasive or non-invasive. It's up to the affected person to figure out which option to use. Of course, choosing the option shouldn't be done only by the patient. It's best to talk to a physician or specialist prior to taking action.

It's equally important to understand that the signs of OHD have been noted in non-obese individuals. Any person showing symptoms of OHD, obese or not, should get checked by a doctor. Treatment is necessary to reestablish the individual's regular sleep cycle.

by: TiaArnold

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