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High altitude sickness - review
High altitude sickness is a common name for illnesses
that can occur at high altitude, usually above 3000
meters from sea level. The cause is hypoxia but the
pathophysiology of the diseases is a complex mixture of
multiple factors, involving the human response to hypoxia.
The most common symptom is headache, but loss of
appetite, nausea and sleep disturbances are also common
complaints. With rapid or high ascent there is increased
risk of acute mountain sickness, with severe headache that
responds poorly to pain medications, nausea, vomiting and
extreme fatigue as the most common symptoms. The most
Gudmundsson G, Gudbjartsson T.
High altitude sickness - review. Icel Med Journal 2009; 95; 441-7
severe forms of high-altitude sickness are high altitude
cerebral edema and high altitude pulmonary edema. High
altitude sickness can be prevented by slow ascent and
avoiding overexertion. Medications can also be used to
reduce symptoms.
In this overview high altitude physiology and
acclimatisation are reviewed. The main types of high
altitude sickness are described with special emphasis on
symptoms and diagnosis, but treatment and prevention are
also reviewed.
Key words: High altitude sickness, acute mountain sickness, high altitude cerebral edema, high altitude pulmonary edema, treatment,
prevention.
Correspondence: Gunnar Guðmundsson, ggudmund@landspitali.is
Barst: 10. desember 2008, - samþykkt til birtingar: 11. maí 2009.
LÆKNAblaðið 2009/95 447
ENGLISH SUMMARY