Altitude Sickness

Altitude Sickness (pronunciation: /ˈæl.tɪ.tjuːd ˈsɪk.nəs/), also known as Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), is a pathological effect of high altitude on humans, caused by acute exposure to low amounts of oxygen at high altitude.

Etymology

The term "Altitude Sickness" is derived from the Latin word "altitudo" meaning "height" and the Old English word "seocnes" meaning "sickness".

Symptoms

Symptoms of Altitude Sickness may include headaches, vomiting, tiredness, trouble sleeping, and dizziness. Severe cases may lead to Pulmonary Edema or Cerebral Edema.

Prevention and Treatment

Prevention methods include acclimatization, where the body is gradually exposed to increasing altitudes, and medication such as Acetazolamide. Treatment often involves descending to a lower altitude and administration of oxygen.

Related Terms

• Hypoxia (medical)
• Acclimatization
• High Altitude Pulmonary Edema
• High Altitude Cerebral Edema

See Also

• Mountain Sickness
• Barometric Pressure

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Altitude Sickness
• Wikipedia's article - Altitude Sickness

This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.

---

Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski