ACUTE MOUNTAIN SICKNESS

Course overview

AT HIGHER ALTITUDES, THE DECREASED PARTIAL PRESSURE OF OXYGEN CAN CAUSE SEVERAL PATHOLOGICAL PRESENTATIONS, INCLUDING HIGH ALTITUDE PULMONARY EDEMA, HIGH ALTITUDE CEREBRAL EDEMA, AND THE MORE MILD, BUT MUCH MORE COMMON ACUTE MOUNTAIN SICKNESS (ALSO REFERRED TO AS ALTITUDE ILLNESS OR ALTITUDE SICKNESS). HIGH ALTITUDE PULMONARY EDEMA AND HIGH ALTITUDE CEREBRAL EDEMA ARE BOTH LIFE-THREATENING EMERGENCIES REQUIRING IMMEDIATE TREATMENT WITH PROMPT DESCENT TO LOWER ALTITUDE (OR ARTIFICIAL HIGH PRESSURE ENVIRONMENT). IN CONTRAST, ACUTE MOUNTAIN SICKNESS CAN BE PREVENTED OR MANAGED WITH ORAL MEDICATION, AND DOES NOT TYPICALLY REQUIRE PROMPT DESCENT OR OXYGEN SUPPLEMENTATION. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT OF PATIENTS WITH ACUTE MOUNTAIN SICKNESS AND PROVIDES RECOMMENDATIONS TO PREVENTING THE CONDITION. THIS ACTIVITY HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN CARING FOR AND COUNSELING PATIENTS AT RISK FOR ACUTE MOUNTAIN SICKNESS.