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The signs, identification, and therapeutic options of Pickwick syndrome
The Pickwick syndrome is a condition characterized by obesity and sleep-related breathing cessation. This condition is named after a character in Charles Dickens’s novel “The Pickwick Papers,” who is the overweight Joe. The disease most commonly affects middle-aged, obese men and can have serious consequences due to breathing disorders that occur during sleep. In Pickwick syndrome, the patient’s airways can become obstructed, leading to a cessation of breathing. This phenomenon is caused by the weight of the chest and the accumulation of fat in the area of the pharynx. As a result, the blood’s oxygen level decreases, which can lead to damage to the central nervous system in the long…