Altitude sickness
Medical condition due to rapid exposure to low oxygen at high altitude / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Altitude sickness, the mildest form being acute mountain sickness (AMS), is a harmful effect of high altitude, caused by rapid exposure to low amounts of oxygen at high elevation.[1][2][3] People can respond to high altitude in different ways. Symptoms may include headaches, vomiting, tiredness, confusion, trouble sleeping, and dizziness.[1] Acute mountain sickness can progress to high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) with associated shortness of breath or high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE) with associated confusion.[1][2] Chronic mountain sickness may occur after long-term exposure to high altitude.[2]
Altitude sickness | |
---|---|
Other names | High-altitude sickness,[1] altitude illness,[1] hypobaropathy, altitude bends, soroche |
Altitude sickness warning – Indian Army | |
Specialty | Emergency medicine |
Symptoms | Headache, vomiting, feeling tired, trouble sleeping, dizziness[1] |
Complications | High-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE), high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE)[1] |
Usual onset | Within 24 hours[1] |
Types | Acute mountain sickness, high-altitude pulmonary edema, high-altitude cerebral edema, chronic mountain sickness[2] |
Causes | Low amounts of oxygen at high elevation[1][2] |
Risk factors | Prior episode, high degree of activity, rapid increase in elevation[2] |
Diagnostic method | Based on symptoms[2] |
Differential diagnosis | Exhaustion, viral infection, hangover, dehydration, carbon monoxide poisoning[1] |
Prevention | Gradual ascent[1] |
Treatment | Descent to lower altitude, sufficient fluids[1][2] |
Medication | Ibuprofen, acetazolamide, dexamethasone, oxygen therapy[2] |
Frequency | 20% at 2,500 metres (8,000 ft) 40% at 3,000 metres (10,000 ft)[1][2] |
Altitude sickness typically occurs only above 2,500 metres (8,000 ft), though some are affected at lower altitudes.[2][4] Risk factors include a prior episode of altitude sickness, a high degree of activity, and a rapid increase in elevation.[2] Diagnosis is based on symptoms and is supported for those who have more than a minor reduction in activities.[2][5] It is recommended that at high altitude any symptoms of headache, nausea, shortness of breath, or vomiting be assumed to be altitude sickness.[6]
Sickness is prevented by gradually increasing elevation by no more than 300 metres (1,000 ft) per day.[1] Being physically fit does not decrease the risk.[2] Generally, descent and sufficient fluid intake can treat symptoms.[1][2] Mild cases may be helped by ibuprofen, acetazolamide, or dexamethasone.[2] Severe cases may benefit from oxygen therapy and a portable hyperbaric bag may be used if descent is not possible.[1] Treatment efforts, however, have not been well studied.[4]
AMS occurs in about 20% of people after rapidly going to 2,500 metres (8,000 ft) and in 40% of people after going to 3,000 metres (10,000 ft).[1][2] While AMS and HACE occurs equally frequently in males and females, HAPE occurs more often in males.[1] The earliest description of altitude sickness is attributed to a Chinese text from around 30 BCE that describes "Big Headache Mountains", possibly referring to the Karakoram Mountains around Kilik Pass.[7]