High Altitude Sickness

About High Altitude Sickness

• It is caused by the body’s exposure to low oxygen levels and reduced air pressure at high altitudes. It is also known as mountain sickness.
• As altitude increases, the air pressure and oxygen levels decrease, leading to hypoxia (shortage of oxygen in the body’s tissues).
• Early symptoms: Headache, nausea, fatigue and shortness of breath.
• If left untreated, it can escalate into;
  • High-Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) – A life-threatening condition where fluid accumulates in the lungs.
  • High-Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE) – where fluid collects in the brain.
  • Both conditions require immediate medical intervention, and descent to lower altitudes is often the only way to prevent fatal outcomes.

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