Altered Respiratory Physiology in Obesity

The major respiratory complications of obesity include a heightened demand for ventilation, elevated work of breathing, respiratory muscle inefficiency and diminished respiratory compliance. The decreased functional residual capacity and expiratory reserve volume, with a high closing volume to funct...

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Main Authors: Krishnan Parameswaran, David C Todd, Mark Soth
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2006-01-01
Series:Canadian Respiratory Journal
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2006/834786
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author Krishnan Parameswaran
David C Todd
Mark Soth
author_facet Krishnan Parameswaran
David C Todd
Mark Soth
author_sort Krishnan Parameswaran
collection DOAJ
description The major respiratory complications of obesity include a heightened demand for ventilation, elevated work of breathing, respiratory muscle inefficiency and diminished respiratory compliance. The decreased functional residual capacity and expiratory reserve volume, with a high closing volume to functional residual capacity ratio of obesity, are associated with the closure of peripheral lung units, ventilation to perfusion ratio abnormalities and hypoxemia, especially in the supine position. Conventional respiratory function tests are only mildly affected by obesity except in extreme cases. The major circulatory complications are increased total and pulmonary blood volume, high cardiac output and elevated left ventricular end-diastolic pressure. Patients with obesity commonly develop hypoventilation and sleep apnea syndromes with attenuated hypoxic and hypercapnic ventilatory responsiveness. The final result is hypoxemia, pulmonary hypertension and progressively worsening disability. Obese patients have increased dyspnea and decreased exercise capacity, which are vital to quality of life. Decreased muscle, increased joint pain and skin friction are important determinants of decreased exercise capacity, in addition to the cardiopulmonary effects of obesity. The effects of obesity on mortality in heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease have not been definitively resolved. Whether obesity contributes to asthma and airway hyper-responsiveness is uncertain. Weight reduction and physical activity are effective means of reversing the respiratory complications of obesity.
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spelling doaj-art-562e2bc1e0084ef5a54f3d004a5d4f002025-08-20T02:04:58ZengWileyCanadian Respiratory Journal1198-22412006-01-0113420321010.1155/2006/834786Altered Respiratory Physiology in ObesityKrishnan Parameswaran0David C Todd1Mark Soth2Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health, St Joseph’s Healthcare and Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, CanadaFirestone Institute for Respiratory Health, St Joseph’s Healthcare and Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, CanadaFirestone Institute for Respiratory Health, St Joseph’s Healthcare and Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, CanadaThe major respiratory complications of obesity include a heightened demand for ventilation, elevated work of breathing, respiratory muscle inefficiency and diminished respiratory compliance. The decreased functional residual capacity and expiratory reserve volume, with a high closing volume to functional residual capacity ratio of obesity, are associated with the closure of peripheral lung units, ventilation to perfusion ratio abnormalities and hypoxemia, especially in the supine position. Conventional respiratory function tests are only mildly affected by obesity except in extreme cases. The major circulatory complications are increased total and pulmonary blood volume, high cardiac output and elevated left ventricular end-diastolic pressure. Patients with obesity commonly develop hypoventilation and sleep apnea syndromes with attenuated hypoxic and hypercapnic ventilatory responsiveness. The final result is hypoxemia, pulmonary hypertension and progressively worsening disability. Obese patients have increased dyspnea and decreased exercise capacity, which are vital to quality of life. Decreased muscle, increased joint pain and skin friction are important determinants of decreased exercise capacity, in addition to the cardiopulmonary effects of obesity. The effects of obesity on mortality in heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease have not been definitively resolved. Whether obesity contributes to asthma and airway hyper-responsiveness is uncertain. Weight reduction and physical activity are effective means of reversing the respiratory complications of obesity.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2006/834786
spellingShingle Krishnan Parameswaran
David C Todd
Mark Soth
Altered Respiratory Physiology in Obesity
Canadian Respiratory Journal
title Altered Respiratory Physiology in Obesity
title_full Altered Respiratory Physiology in Obesity
title_fullStr Altered Respiratory Physiology in Obesity
title_full_unstemmed Altered Respiratory Physiology in Obesity
title_short Altered Respiratory Physiology in Obesity
title_sort altered respiratory physiology in obesity
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2006/834786
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AT davidctodd alteredrespiratoryphysiologyinobesity
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