Acute Mountain Sickness in a General Tourist Population at Moderate Altitudes

Author:

Honigman, Benjamin, Theis, Mary Kay, Koziol-McLain, Jane, Roach, Robert, Yip, Ray, Houston, Charles, Moore, Lorna G.

Title:

Acute Mountain Sickness in a General Tourist Population at Moderate Altitudes

Periodical:

Annals of Internal Medicine

Year:

1993

Volume:

118

Pages:

587-592

Subject:

Acute mountain sickness (AMS) Altitude mountain sickness (AMS)

Summary:

Since Acute Mountain Sickness, (AMS), affects a large number of mountain visitors who travel to high altitudes on an annual basis, there has been a long-standing interest in the study of AMS since those who ascend from low to high altitude rapidly often experience symptoms of AMS as follows: headache, fatigue, shortness of breath, sleeplessness, and anorexia. In addition, since these symptoms can progress to life-threatening conditions such High Altitude Pulmonary Edema, (HAPE), and High Altitude Cerebral Edema, (HACE), more needs to be learned about the incidence of AMS at moderate altitudes and about the characteristics of those, from the general population, who are most likely to be at risk for symptom development. This was especially so since previous estimates that were obtained were primarily taken from small groups of physically fit young men who travel to altitudes above 12000 feet. As a result, the purpose of this study was to: determine the incidence of AMS in visitors who were exposed to moderate elevations, to determine the effect of AMS on physical activity, and to determine the visitor characteristics that were associated with the development of AMS. This information would help to develop of strategies that would minimize the symptoms that travelers might experience at moderate altitudes.

Label:

Altitude Mountain Sickness (AMS)

Collection:

Periodicals