altitude sickness: see decompression sickness decompression sickness, physiological disorder caused by a rapid decrease in atmospheric pressure, resulting in the release of nitrogen bubbles into the body tissues. It is also known as caisson disease, altitude sickness, and the bends.
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altitude sickness

or mountain sickness

Acute reaction to a change from low altitudes to altitudes above 8,000 ft (2,400 m). Most people gradually adapt, but some have a severe reaction that can be fatal unless they return to low altitude. Normal adaptations to the reduced oxygen at high altitude (e.g., breathlessness, racing heartbeat) are exaggerated; other manifestations include headache, gastrointestinal upsets, and weakness. Pulmonary edema is quickly reversed with oxygen and evacuation to a lower area.

altitude sickness [′al·tə‚tüd ‚sik·nəs]

(medicine)

In general, any sickness brought on by exposure to reduced oxygen tension and barometric pressure.

Altitude Sickness

a pathological condition that arises upon ascent to great heights (above 3,000 m) resulting from lowered partial pressure of oxygen in inhaled air. The development of altitude sickness is associated with a disturbance of the function of certain organs and systems, chiefly of the cells of the higher sections of the central nervous system, resulting from oxygen starvation, or hypoxia. At heights under 3,000 m, a healthy person’s oxygen deficiency is compensated for by an increase in pulmonary ventilation (faster and deeper breathing), in blood circulation, and in hemoglobin and erythrocyte count in the blood. Further ascent brings on hypoxia, since the functions of the organism can no longer provide sufficient compensation. A shortage of oxygen in the surrounding air leads to lowered partial pressure of oxygen in the lungs and to lowered oxygen saturation of arterial blood. The major symptoms of altitude sickness include shortness of breath, heart palpitations, dizziness, noise in the ears, headache, nausea, weakness of the muscles, perspiration, blurred vision, sleepiness, and decreased stamina. The symptoms develop in phases, depending on the speed of ascent and on the functional state of the organism. Alcohol, fatigue, and insomnia lower the tolerance for great heights.

Treatments for altitude sickness include descent to a lower altitude, rest, cardiac medicines, and strong tea or coffee. In severe cases, inhalation of oxygen is called for. Inhalation of oxygen from a special apparatus while ascending to great heights prevents altitude sickness. Sports that increase the organism’s demand for oxygen and thus cause hypoxia develop the organism’s resistance to hypoxia. One variant of altitude sickness is mountain sickness. Along with an oxygen deficiency, other factors in mountain sickness are physical exhaustion, cold, and ultraviolet radiation. With acclimatization to the mountain climate, the symptoms of mountain sickness weaken. Relative stabilization of the physiological indexes begins after approximately a three-week stay in the mountains.

N. A. AGADZHANIAN

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No references found	Tom, 60, who turned Seaham Hall in County Durham from an old, derelict building into the area's first five-star hotel, will spend eight days climbing, battling severe altitude sickness and temperatures that plummet to -20C. Climb for hotel boss by Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England) The group battled wind and rain, as well as altitude sickness, to climb the 9,000ft highest peak, walking 38km in three days. Air cadets hailed after Africa trek by South Wales Echo (Cardiff, Wales) Byline: ANI Washington, Apr 24 (ANI): 'The Kills' star Alison Mosshart has had to cut short a gig in Colorado after she was taken ill with altitude sickness. The Kills' Alison Mosshart cuts short gig due to illness by Asian News International	altimeter altimeter corrections altimeter setting Altimeter, Aircraft altimeter-setting indicator altimetry altiplanation altiplanation surface altiplanation terrace Altiplano altithermal altithermal soil Altitude altitude acclimatization altitude and azimuth altitude azimuth altitude chamber altitude circle altitude curve altitude datum altitude delay altitude difference altitude hole altitude intercept altitude reservation Altitude Sickness altitude signal altitude tints altitude valve altitude wind tunnel altitude-azimuth mounting altitude-contour altitudinal vegetation zone Altitudinal Zonality Altman, Benjamin Altman, Moishe Ilich Altman, Natan Altman, Natan Isaevich Altman, Robert Altman, Sidney Altmark Truce of 1629 Altmark, the altmode ALTN Altneuland alto Alto Adige alto-relievo alto-rilievo Altoaguirre, Manuel altocumulus	Altitude Gauge Altitude Gyro Control Assembly Altitude Heading Direction Altitude Heading Gyroscope System Altitude Heading Reference System altitude height altitude hold Altitude Hold and Hover Stabilization System Altitude Hold Mode altitude hole altitude hole Altitude Identification and Measuring System Altitude illness Altitude illness Altitude illness Altitude illness Altitude Information Monitoring System altitude intercept Altitude Limited Electric Soaring Altitude Lost During Recovery Altitude Measurement Unit Altitude of a pyramid Altitude Radar Sensor Processing Altitude Reporting Mode of Secondary Radar Altitude Reservation Altitude Reservation Altitude Reservation Facility Altitude Sensor Parachute Staging Unit altitude separation Altitude Sickness altitude signal altitude slot Altitude Stabilization and Control altitude tints Altitude Transmitting Equipment altitude valve Altitude Vertical Velocity Indicator altitude wind tunnel Altitude, effects on humans Altitude, effects on humans Altitude, effects on humans Altitude, effects on humans Altitude-azimuth altitude-azimuth mounting altitude-contour Altitude/Airspeed Sensor Altitude/azimuth Altitude/Depth Altitude/Height Altitudes Altitudes Altitudes Altitudes altitudinal altitudinal altitudinal altitudinal Altitudinal field defect Altitudinal field defect Altitudinal field defect

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Tom, 60, who turned Seaham Hall in County Durham from an old, derelict building into the area's first five-star hotel, will spend eight days climbing, battling severe altitude sickness and temperatures that plummet to -20C.

Climb for hotel boss by Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England)

The group battled wind and rain, as well as altitude sickness, to climb the 9,000ft highest peak, walking 38km in three days.

Air cadets hailed after Africa trek by South Wales Echo (Cardiff, Wales)

Byline: ANI Washington, Apr 24 (ANI): 'The Kills' star Alison Mosshart has had to cut short a gig in Colorado after she was taken ill with altitude sickness.

The Kills' Alison Mosshart cuts short gig due to illness by Asian News International

Altitude Gauge
Altitude Gyro Control Assembly
Altitude Heading Direction
Altitude Heading Gyroscope System
Altitude Heading Reference System
altitude height
altitude hold
Altitude Hold and Hover Stabilization System
Altitude Hold Mode
altitude hole
altitude hole
Altitude Identification and Measuring System
Altitude illness
Altitude illness
Altitude illness
Altitude illness
Altitude Information Monitoring System
altitude intercept
Altitude Limited Electric Soaring
Altitude Lost During Recovery
Altitude Measurement Unit
Altitude of a pyramid
Altitude Radar Sensor Processing
Altitude Reporting Mode of Secondary Radar
Altitude Reservation
Altitude Reservation
Altitude Reservation Facility
Altitude Sensor Parachute Staging Unit
altitude separation

Altitude Sickness

altitude signal
altitude slot
Altitude Stabilization and Control
altitude tints
Altitude Transmitting Equipment
altitude valve
Altitude Vertical Velocity Indicator
altitude wind tunnel
Altitude, effects on humans
Altitude, effects on humans
Altitude, effects on humans
Altitude, effects on humans
Altitude-azimuth
altitude-azimuth mounting
altitude-contour
Altitude/Airspeed Sensor
Altitude/azimuth
Altitude/Depth
Altitude/Height
Altitudes
Altitudes
Altitudes
Altitudes
altitudinal
altitudinal
altitudinal
altitudinal
Altitudinal field defect
Altitudinal field defect
Altitudinal field defect