High-altitude-related disorders - Part 1: Pathophysiology, differential diagnosis, and treatment

Author:

Rodway, George W., Hoffman, Leslie A., Sanders, Mark H.

Title:

High-altitude-related disorders - Part 1: Pathophysiology, differential diagnosis, and treatment

Periodical:

Heart & Lung: The Journal of Acute and Critical Care

Year:

2003

Volume:

32

Pages:

353-359

Subject:

Altitude mountain sickness (AMS) Acute mountain sickness (AMS) Cerebral edema Pulmonary edema Oxygen

Summary:

Each year, an increasing number of people choose to sojourn to areas that are 8000 feet above sea level, or higher, in an effort to enjoy skiing, hiking, mountain climbing, and other activities. Unfortunately, 25 percent of those who travel to elevations of more than 8500 feet, develop signs and symptoms of high-altitude illness and the percentage has been known to increase to the 42 percent in those who travel to 10,000 foot elevations or higher. As a result, high-altitude disorders such as Acute Mountain Sickness, High-Altitude Cerebral Edema, and High Altitude Pulmonary Edema are discussed in this article. Also discussed are the symptoms that often accompany these conditions such as nausea, poor sleep, headache, lassitude, cough, dyspnea on exertion and at rest, ataxia, and mental status changes, for which treatment is best accomplished by descent, the administration of oxygen, or by pharmacologic intervention, if necessary. Under no circumstances should a person with worsening symptoms of high-altitude illness delay descent. In part II of this article, gradual ascent and subsequent acclimatization to altitude is the most effective prevention, though acetazolamide (Diamox) may be a useful prophylactic measure in some.

Label:

Altitude Mountain Sickness (AMS)

URL:

http://cletus.uhh.hawaii.edu:2074/10.1016/j.hrtlng.2003.08.002

Date:

2003

Collection:

Periodicals