See Also: altitude sickness(medicine)
Altitude sickness(health)
altitude sickness(encyclopedia)
high altitude sickness(medicine)
Altitude(medicine)
altitude(dictionary)
altitude(dictionary)
Acclimatization to altitude(health)
altitude chamber(medicine)
altitude disease(medicine)

altitude sickness (sh)




or mountain sickness

Acute reaction to a change from low altitudes to altitudes above 8,000 ft (2,400 m).

Most people gradually adapt, but some have a severe reaction that can be fatal unless they return to low altitude. Normal adaptations to the reduced oxygen at high altitude (e.g., breathlessness, racing heartbeat) are exaggerated; other manifestations include headache, gastrointestinal upsets, and weakness. Pulmonary edema is quickly reversed with oxygen and evacuation to a lower area.