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Related Concept Videos

Hyperpnea and Hyperventilation01:25

Hyperpnea and Hyperventilation

Hyperventilation refers to a higher-than-normal rate and depth of breathing, often associated with anxiety attacks. This excessive breathing surpasses the body's need to expel CO2, leading to a condition known as hypocapnia - an unusually low level of carbon dioxide in the blood. Hypocapnia can constrict cerebral blood vessels, reducing blood flow to the brain, which may result in dizziness or fainting. Early signs include tingling and muscle spasms in the hands and face, caused by falling...
Acute Respiratory Failure-III01:30

Acute Respiratory Failure-III

Hypercapnic respiratory failure, also known as Type 2 or ventilatory respiratory failure, is a severe condition characterized by the body's inability to effectively remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the bloodstream. It leads to an arterial CO2 pressure (PaCO2) exceeding 45 mmHg and a blood pH above 7.35. This situation indicates that the body's ventilatory demand, or the ventilation needed to maintain normal PaCO2 levels, surpasses its supply or the maximum gas flow achievable without causing...
Acute Respiratory Failure-II01:21

Acute Respiratory Failure-II

Type I Respiratory Failure, or hypoxemic respiratory failure, occurs when the partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) in arterial blood falls below 60 mmHg while breathing room air without a corresponding increase in arterial carbon dioxide levels (PaCO2). This condition highlights a significant impairment in the lungs' capacity to oxygenate the blood.
The underlying physiological abnormalities that contribute to hypoxemic respiratory failure include:
Alterations in Respiration II01:30

Alterations in Respiration II

There are numerous types of normal and abnormal respiration. Based on ventilatory movements, breathing patterns are classified as regular, deep, or shallow. Examples include Biot's breathing, Cheyne-Stokes respiration, Kussmaul's breathing, hyperventilation, and hypoventilation. Each pattern is clinically significant and aids in evaluating patients.
In Biot's breathing, the respiratory rate and depth are irregular, alternating between periods of deep gasping and apnea. Common causes include...
Obesity01:24

Obesity

The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a numerical value derived from a person's weight and height, used to categorize individuals into weight ranges. It is calculated using the formula: weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Obesity is a health condition characterized by excessive accumulation of adipose tissue that poses health risks, often diagnosed with a BMI ≥ 30. This excess fat storage occurs when surplus dietary calories are converted into triglycerides and stored in adipocytes...
Physiological Control of Respiration01:23

Physiological Control of Respiration

Introduction
Breathing, a seemingly passive process, is regulated by the respiratory center in the brainstem. This center coordinates the involuntary control of respirations, which means it occurs without conscious effort, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted pattern.
Regulation of Ventilation
The body maintains ventilation by monitoring levels of carbon dioxide (CO2), oxygen (O2), and hydrogen ion concentration (pH) in the arterial blood. Among these factors, the level of CO2 plays a crucial...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 4, 2026

Intraperitoneal Glucose Tolerance Test, Measurement of Lung Function, and Fixation of the Lung to Study the Impact of Obesity and Impaired Metabolism on Pulmonary Outcomes
08:30

Intraperitoneal Glucose Tolerance Test, Measurement of Lung Function, and Fixation of the Lung to Study the Impact of Obesity and Impaired Metabolism on Pulmonary Outcomes

Published on: March 15, 2018

[Obesity-hypoventilation syndrome].

E Weitzenblum1, R Kessler, M Canuet

  • 1Service de Pneumologie, Pôle de Pathologie thoracique, Hôpital de Hautepierre, CHU de Strasbourg, France. Emmanuel.weitzenblum@chru-strasbourg.fr

Revue Des Maladies Respiratoires
|June 10, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Obesity-hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) is chronic alveolar hypoventilation in obese patients. Nocturnal ventilation is the most effective treatment for OHS, improving symptoms and blood gases.

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Intraperitoneal Glucose Tolerance Test, Measurement of Lung Function, and Fixation of the Lung to Study the Impact of Obesity and Impaired Metabolism on Pulmonary Outcomes
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Experimental Approach to Examine Leptin Signaling in the Carotid Bodies and its Effects on Control of Breathing
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Experimental Approach to Examine Leptin Signaling in the Carotid Bodies and its Effects on Control of Breathing

Published on: October 25, 2019

Area of Science:

  • Pulmonary Medicine
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Critical Care

Context:

  • Obesity-hypoventilation syndrome (OHS), previously termed Pickwickian syndrome, is defined by chronic alveolar hypoventilation (PaO2<70 mmHg, PaCO2 ≥45 mmHg) in obese patients (BMI>30 kg/m2) without other respiratory causes.
  • While most obese individuals do not experience hypercapnia, OHS arises from increased respiratory work, respiratory muscle weakness, impaired respiratory control, and potentially leptin's role.
  • OHS prevalence is rising with the obesity epidemic, often diagnosed after respiratory failure, and frequently co-occurs with comorbidities like hypertension, heart disease, and diabetes.

Purpose:

  • To define obesity-hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) and differentiate it from obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS).
  • To discuss the multifactorial causes of alveolar hypoventilation in obese patients.
  • To highlight current treatment strategies for OHS.

Summary:

  • OHS is characterized by hypoxemia and hypercapnia in obese individuals, distinct from OSAS, though often associated.
  • Key contributing factors include increased respiratory workload, respiratory muscle dysfunction, and altered central respiratory drive.
  • While weight loss is ideal, nocturnal ventilation, particularly bilevel non-invasive ventilation, offers significant short- and long-term benefits for OHS management.

Impact:

  • Clarifies diagnostic criteria for OHS, aiding in its distinction from OSAS.
  • Provides insight into the pathogenesis of OHS, informing future research directions.
  • Emphasizes the efficacy of nocturnal ventilation as a primary treatment modality for OHS, improving patient outcomes.