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Diagnosis and Management of Mountain Sickness - A Review

Received: 6 February 2023    Accepted: 22 February 2023    Published: 3 March 2023
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Abstract

Acute mountain sickness (AMS) is the most common form of illness at high altitude; however, it is still unclear whether age is a protective factor or a risk factor for the development of AMS in travellers. The condition generally occurs at altitudes higher than 8,000 feet (ft), or 2,500 meters (m), and is usually due to a lack of oxygen. A person who is not used to high altitudes is most at risk of developing altitude sickness. Mountain sickness is also called high altitude sickness, referring to the impact of environment on the body health at high elevation. Altitude illness is divided into 3 syndromes: acute mountain sickness, high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE), and high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE). Mountain climbers are at risk of developing altitude sickness. Altitude sickness is caused by ascending too rapidly, which doesn't allow the body enough time to adjust to reduced oxygen and changes in air pressure. Symptoms include headache, vomiting, insomnia and reduced performance and coordination. Generally, it is classified into three categories based on the onset condition, namely acute mountain sickness, high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE) and high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE). Hypoxic sleep disruption contributes to the symptoms of acute mountain sickness. Hypoxemia at high altitude is most severe during sleep. The sickness signifies that the human body has yet to adapt to the environment at 2500 meters or above in elevation, where low air pressure and oxygen will impair body functions. Mild cases can be treated according to symptoms (such as with painkillers for a headache), which usually go away on their own within a few days. Medicines specific for altitude sickness are also available. Acetazolamide is used to prevent and reduce the symptoms of altitude sickness. This medication can decrease headache, tiredness, nausea, dizziness, and shortness of breath that can occur when you climb quickly to high altitudes.

Published in Journal of Family Medicine and Health Care (Volume 9, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.jfmhc.20230901.14
Page(s) 23-27
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), High-Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE), High-Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE), High Altitude Sickness, Lake Louise Acute Mountain Sickness Score

References
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Da-Ming Liao, Chieh Chen. (2023). Diagnosis and Management of Mountain Sickness - A Review. Journal of Family Medicine and Health Care, 9(1), 23-27. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfmhc.20230901.14

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    ACS Style

    Da-Ming Liao; Chieh Chen. Diagnosis and Management of Mountain Sickness - A Review. J. Fam. Med. Health Care 2023, 9(1), 23-27. doi: 10.11648/j.jfmhc.20230901.14

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    AMA Style

    Da-Ming Liao, Chieh Chen. Diagnosis and Management of Mountain Sickness - A Review. J Fam Med Health Care. 2023;9(1):23-27. doi: 10.11648/j.jfmhc.20230901.14

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  • @article{10.11648/j.jfmhc.20230901.14,
      author = {Da-Ming Liao and Chieh Chen},
      title = {Diagnosis and Management of Mountain Sickness - A Review},
      journal = {Journal of Family Medicine and Health Care},
      volume = {9},
      number = {1},
      pages = {23-27},
      doi = {10.11648/j.jfmhc.20230901.14},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfmhc.20230901.14},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jfmhc.20230901.14},
      abstract = {Acute mountain sickness (AMS) is the most common form of illness at high altitude; however, it is still unclear whether age is a protective factor or a risk factor for the development of AMS in travellers. The condition generally occurs at altitudes higher than 8,000 feet (ft), or 2,500 meters (m), and is usually due to a lack of oxygen. A person who is not used to high altitudes is most at risk of developing altitude sickness. Mountain sickness is also called high altitude sickness, referring to the impact of environment on the body health at high elevation. Altitude illness is divided into 3 syndromes: acute mountain sickness, high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE), and high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE). Mountain climbers are at risk of developing altitude sickness. Altitude sickness is caused by ascending too rapidly, which doesn't allow the body enough time to adjust to reduced oxygen and changes in air pressure. Symptoms include headache, vomiting, insomnia and reduced performance and coordination. Generally, it is classified into three categories based on the onset condition, namely acute mountain sickness, high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE) and high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE). Hypoxic sleep disruption contributes to the symptoms of acute mountain sickness. Hypoxemia at high altitude is most severe during sleep. The sickness signifies that the human body has yet to adapt to the environment at 2500 meters or above in elevation, where low air pressure and oxygen will impair body functions. Mild cases can be treated according to symptoms (such as with painkillers for a headache), which usually go away on their own within a few days. Medicines specific for altitude sickness are also available. Acetazolamide is used to prevent and reduce the symptoms of altitude sickness. This medication can decrease headache, tiredness, nausea, dizziness, and shortness of breath that can occur when you climb quickly to high altitudes.},
     year = {2023}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Diagnosis and Management of Mountain Sickness - A Review
    AU  - Da-Ming Liao
    AU  - Chieh Chen
    Y1  - 2023/03/03
    PY  - 2023
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    AB  - Acute mountain sickness (AMS) is the most common form of illness at high altitude; however, it is still unclear whether age is a protective factor or a risk factor for the development of AMS in travellers. The condition generally occurs at altitudes higher than 8,000 feet (ft), or 2,500 meters (m), and is usually due to a lack of oxygen. A person who is not used to high altitudes is most at risk of developing altitude sickness. Mountain sickness is also called high altitude sickness, referring to the impact of environment on the body health at high elevation. Altitude illness is divided into 3 syndromes: acute mountain sickness, high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE), and high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE). Mountain climbers are at risk of developing altitude sickness. Altitude sickness is caused by ascending too rapidly, which doesn't allow the body enough time to adjust to reduced oxygen and changes in air pressure. Symptoms include headache, vomiting, insomnia and reduced performance and coordination. Generally, it is classified into three categories based on the onset condition, namely acute mountain sickness, high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE) and high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE). Hypoxic sleep disruption contributes to the symptoms of acute mountain sickness. Hypoxemia at high altitude is most severe during sleep. The sickness signifies that the human body has yet to adapt to the environment at 2500 meters or above in elevation, where low air pressure and oxygen will impair body functions. Mild cases can be treated according to symptoms (such as with painkillers for a headache), which usually go away on their own within a few days. Medicines specific for altitude sickness are also available. Acetazolamide is used to prevent and reduce the symptoms of altitude sickness. This medication can decrease headache, tiredness, nausea, dizziness, and shortness of breath that can occur when you climb quickly to high altitudes.
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Author Information
  • Dental Department, Puli Christian Hospital, Nantou Country, Taiwan, R.O.C.

  • Department of Family Medicine, Hualien Armed Forces General Hospital, Hualien Country, Taiwan, R.O.C.

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