Gourt > Health > Conditions and Diseases > Wounds and Injuries > Altitude Sickness
Altitude sickness, also known as acute mountain sickness (AMS) or altitude illness is a pathological condition that is caused by lack of adaptation to high altitudes. It commonly occurs above 2,500 metres (approximately 8,000 feet). If untreated, the condition can result in death.
Another, rarer, type of altitude sickness caused by prolonged exposure to high altitude is chronic mountain sickness, also known as Monge's disease.
Introduction
Different people have different susceptibilities to altitude sickness. For some otherwise healthy people symptoms can begin to appear at around 1,500 meters (5,000 feet) above sea level. This is the altitude of Mexico City (2,240m/7,349ft.) and Denver, Colorado (1,609m/5,280ft). Diets high in carbohydrates may make people suffering from AMS feel better. Carbohydrates require less oxygen to metabolise than fats, but the volumes involved are not large and the mechanism may not be so direct. High-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) and cerebral edema are the most ominous of these symptoms, while acute mountain sickness, retinal hemorrhages, and peripheral edema are the milder forms of the disease. The rate of ascent, the altitude attained, the amount of physical activity at high altitude, and individual susceptibility are contributing factors to the incidence and severity of high-altitude illness. More on [ Altitude sickness ]
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Acclimatization Page - Information on proper acclimatization and hydration to reduce the incidence of altitude illness. Discussion of altitude's effect on diet, menstruation, and medications. Bibliography and links.
Altitude Illness - Summary of prevention and treatment methods.
Altitude Sickness and Atmospheric Pressure - Basic information plus a utility to calculate the atmospheric pressure at any altitude.
American Academy of Family Physicians - Overview article with an informational handout for patients.
Apex Altitude - A charity that exists to perform high altitude medical research and educate the public about the topic
Meta Description: [ Apex 2. A unique medical research expedition, combining cutting edge research with the stunning high altitude environment and the energy of youth ]
Birmingham Medical Research Expeditionary Society - Site of a group of medical scientists studying the effects of altitude and the causes and management of acute mountain sickness.
British Mountaineering Council - Mountain Medicine Centre - Information on altitude related illnesses with a focus on climbing at altitude.
CDC Travelers' Health Information on Altitude Illness - CDC's advisory for people planning travel to destinations at altitude.
Meta Description: [ Official U.S. government health recommendations for traveling. Provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). ]
eMedicine Health - Mountain Sickness - Consumer health resource center providing information on the causes, symptoms, and treatment.
Meta Description: [ Mountain sickness is an illness that ranges from a mild headache and weariness to a life-threatening build-up of fluid in the lungs or brain at high altitudes. Acute mountain sickness ... ]
Family Practice Notebook: High Altitude Sickness - Outline of symptoms, prevention, and diagnosis for all altitude related illnesses.
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Healthy Me - Basic information, including a bibliography.
Meta Description: [ aHealthyme.com provides information on health and wellness, along with daily health news, full-text journal and magazine articles, personalized newsletters and e-mail reminders, shopping, and more. ]
High Altitude Medicine - About the book by Herb Hultgren, M.D., including ordering information.
High Altitude Medicine and Biology - About the magazine published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (and me) - Personal account of an experience with HAPE.
Meta Description: [ High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (and me) ]
High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) - Article on a personal experience with HAPE.
High-Altitude Medical Guide - Information on the prevention, recognition, and treatment of altitude illness, as well as other health issues affecting travelers to destinations at altitude.
Meta Description: [ The High Altitude Medicine Guide. These web pages provide
information about altitude illness and other health issues affecting travellers
to high mountainous regions of the world. ]
HypoMed Global Services - Information on Hypoytherapy/Hypoxytraining. About the annual international Hypoxia in Medicine conference.
Hypoxia - Information about the International Hypoxia Symposium including abstracts.
International Society for Mountain Medicine - Altitude tutorial. Newsletter archive. About the World Congress on Mountain Medicine and High Altitude Physiology.
Mechanism for Life-Threatening High-Altitude Sickness Uncovered - Article from the American Heart Association on a study of the mechanism that causes HAPE.
Medex and Medical Expeditions - Information about and from this research charity dedicated to investigating the mechanisms of altitude related illness. Newsletter archive and planned expedition information.
Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy - Chapter from the Merck Manual on altitude sickness covering causes, treatment, and prevention.
Non-Physician Altitude Tutorial - Tutorial from the International Society for Mountain Medicine covering acclimatization, AMS, HACE, and HAPE. Includes treatment and prevention information.
Outdoor Action Guide to High Altitude - Description of altitude related illnesses, their symptoms and their treatment.
Outdoor Places - Basic description of common illnesses encountered at various altitudes with prevention tips.
Special Safety Considerations for High Altitude Mountaineering - Article on the effects of altitude with an emphasis on climbing at altitude.
Supplemental Oxygen for the General Aviation Pilot - Article on determining the need for supplemental oxygen at density altitude.
Urinary Leukotriene E4 Levels in HAPE - Abstract of a study of the association between urinary excretion of leukotriene-E4 (LTE4) and high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) in order to determine whether HAPE involves inflammatory mechanisms.
Warning: Altitude Sickness Shouldn't Be Taken Lightly - Article from Health World about the effects of altitude on exercise.
Meta Description: [ HealthWorld Online is the Internet's leading resource on alternative medicine, wellness, and mind/body health, featuring the Wellness Inventory whole person assessment program, the Healthy Shopping Network, Find a Practitioner Network, Healthy Update e-newsletter, and thousands of expert articles... ]
WebMD - Questions and answers about travel to destinations at altitude. Submit a question or read previously submitted questions and answers.
Meta Description: [ It's a fact: Being at a high elevation is stressful to your body. ]
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