What Causes the Pickwickian Syndrome?
There are several factors that comes together to develop this syndrome: • obesity • sleep apnea • breathing problems • lung diseaseSome people have a problem with the breathing reflex which allows carbon dioxide to accumulate in their blood. In this way the blood becomes toxic. Obesity may cause shallow breathing by interfering with the work of the breathing muscle. And if the obese person is lying down or sleeping, this abnormal breathing becomes worse. Abnormal breathing in sleep leads to frequent awakenings, apnea episodes, excessive daytime sleepiness, weight gain. And the result is obesity-hypoventilation syndrome, or the pickwickian disorder.
