Altitude sickness and its types (acute mountain sickness)

What is altitude sickness or acute mountain sickness? What are the types of altitude sickness? What is pulmonary edema? What is the definition of cerebral edema? What are the causes of shortness of breath at altitude? What are the causes of altitude sickness?

Definition of altitude sickness

Altitude sickness can be defined as a group of symptoms that can occur if you walk or climb to a higher altitude too quickly. It is also called "mountain disease" or "acute mountain sickness", and scientifically the term "acute mountain sickness" is applied to the simplest type of altitude sickness.

The air pressure around you is called atmospheric pressure . When you move during movement to higher altitudes, this pressure decreases and the amount of oxygen available in the ocean decreases, which causes shortness of breath at heights. Because the relationship between pressure and altitude is an inverse relationship, pressure decreases with increasing altitude.

If you live at a moderate altitude, you are used to air pressure. But if you travel to a place at a higher altitude than you're used to, your body will need time to adjust to the pressure change.

Any time you go to an altitude of more than 8,000 feet, you may experience symptoms of altitude sickness.

Types of altitude sickness

There are three types of altitude sickness:

• Acute mountain sickness or Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) is a mild form of altitude sickness that is very common and its symptoms remain within normal limits, such as headache, dizziness and nausea.

• High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) is the accumulation of fluid in the lungs. This type can be very dangerous and life threatening.

• High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE) is an abbreviation. It is the most severe form of altitude sickness, as it occurs when fluid builds up in the brain. Cerebral edema is very dangerous and life-threatening, so medical attention must be sought immediately.