Acute Altitude Illness

Every year, people die of altitude sickness. All of these deaths are preventable - Altitude.org

Acute Altitude Illness

image by: Dr Shyam P Lohani

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Tips for Spotting and Treating High-Altitude Illness

The most important syndromes that make up the spectrum of HAI are high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) and acute mountain sickness (AMS), which can progress to high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE). Younger athletes and males are at greater risk of HAI since they are more likely to engage in vigorous activity prior to acclimatization or continue ascent despite symptoms.

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 Tips for Spotting and Treating High-Altitude Illness

The most important syndromes that make up the spectrum of HAI are high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) and acute mountain sickness (AMS), which can progress to high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE). Younger athletes and males are at greater risk of HAI since they are more likely to engage in vigorous activity prior to acclimatization or continue ascent despite symptoms.

Altitude.org

This site has been created by the authors with the intention of educating the public further in the fields of high altitude medicine and physiology. The website is also the home of the International HAPE Database, a confidential record of individuals who have previously experienced high altitude pulmonary oedema (HAPE).

BaseCampMD.com

Go too high above what you are prepared for, and you get sick. This "zone of tolerance" moves up with you as you acclimatize. Each day, as you ascend, you are acclimatizing to a higher elevation, and thus your zone of tolerance extends that much higher up the mountain. The trick is to limit your daily upward travel to stay within that tolerance zone.

Centre for Altitude Space and Extreme Environment Medicine

Centre for Altitude Space and Extreme Environment Medicine (CASE Medicine) is a group of clinicians and scientists with specialist interests and training in the medicine and physiology of extreme environments.

High Altitude Pulmonary and Pathology Institute

Welcome to the High Altitude Pathology Institute, Clinica IPPA. Since our creation in 1970, we have evolved to become the most experienced and prestigious medical center dealing with high altitude medical care

CDC

The stresses of the high-altitude environment include cold, low humidity, increased ultraviolet radiation, and decreased air pressure, all of which can cause problems for travelers. The primary concern, however, is hypoxia. At 10,000 ft (3,000 m), for example, the inspired PO2 is only 69% of sea-level value. The degree of hypoxic stress depends on altitude, rate of ascent, and duration of exposure. Sleeping at high altitude produces the most hypoxia; day trips to high altitude with return to low altitude are much less stressful on the body.

MedicineNet

Acute (sudden) altitude sicknesses can occur as low as 8,000 feet (2500 meters), but the risk for altitude sickness increases with increasing altitude. Acute altitude sickness occurs in up to 50% of those living in the lowlands who ascend to a level of 14,000 feet (4200 m). Onset of the condition can begin any time from eight to 96 hours after arrival at altitudes over 8,000 feet.

Patient

The best way to try to prevent altitude sickness is to climb up (ascend) to higher altitudes slowly. This gives time for your body to adapt to conditions (acclimatise). Different people will acclimatise at different rates. Remember to drink enough fluids (keep well hydrated) and eat enough food (stay well nourished). There are also drugs that can be taken to prevent acute mountain sickness (AMS), the most widely known being acetazolamide (Diamox®). These are most suitable for people who have been known to have problems in the past or who unavoidably have to ascend more quickly than recommended. The routine use of acetazolamide before ascent is not recommended. The better strategy for prevention is to ascend slowly and to be aware of any developing symptoms.

UpToDate

Acute mountain sickness (AMS) and high altitude cerebral edema (HACE) are generally considered to represent two points along a single spectrum of disease, with the same underlying pathophysiology. Although several aspects of this pathophysiology remain unclear, the concept that AMS/HACE represents a continuum, and that AMS can progress to fatal HACE, fits with clinical experience and is helpful for management.

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