Knowra Altitude sickness Altitude sickness Altitude sickness is a group of illnesses caused by rapid exposure to high altitude, where reduced oxygen availability strains the body. It ranges from acute mountain sickness to life-threatening swelling of the brain or lungs.
Hypobaric hypoxia : Oxygen deficiency caused by low atmospheric pressure, which reduces the partial pressure of oxygen in inspired air. Falling oxygen pressure at altitude initiates the physiological stress behind altitude sickness.
Wilderness first aid : Medical care delivered in remote settings where professional treatment and evacuation may be delayed. Altitude emergencies often begin far from hospitals, making field decisions consequential.
Altitude acclimatization : The physiological adjustments that improve tolerance to low oxygen during gradual or sustained exposure to high altitude. Acclimatization is adaptation to altitude, not an illness, and helps prevent sickness.
Mount Everest : The Earth's highest mountain above sea level, with a summit elevation of 8,848.86 meters. Its extreme elevation exposes climbers to severe hypoxia and altitude-illness risks.
Hypoxia-inducible factor : A family of transcription factors that changes gene expression when cells experience low oxygen. Its signaling helps explain varied oxygen responses, but does not fully predict who becomes ill.
Acute mountain sickness : A common altitude illness marked by headache and symptoms such as nausea, fatigue, dizziness, or poor sleep. This is the usual mild-to-moderate form of altitude sickness.
Acetazolamide : A carbonic anhydrase inhibitor used to prevent and treat acute mountain sickness by promoting acclimatization. It can support acclimatization when ascent cannot be sufficiently slowed.
High-altitude deterioration : The progressive loss of physical and cognitive performance that can occur during prolonged exposure to extreme altitude. It reflects chronic exposure and functional decline rather than the acute illness spectrum.
Denali : A mountain in Alaska and North America's highest peak, rising to 6,190 meters above sea level. Its high elevation and cold, remote routes create substantial altitude and evacuation challenges.
Pulmonary hypertension : Elevated pressure in the arteries that carry blood from the heart to the lungs. Exaggerated pulmonary pressure responses contribute to lung edema, with individual variation still difficult to forecast.
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