mountain sickness

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.

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mountain sickness

1. nausea, headache, and shortness of breath caused by climbing to high altitudes (usually above 12 000 ft.)

2. Vet science a disease of cattle kept at high altitude in S and N America, characterized by congestive heart failure

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mountain sickness [′mau̇nt·ən ‚sik·nəs]

(medicine)

A disease occurring in persons living at high altitudes when homeostatic adjustments to the lowered atmospheric oxygen tension fail or develop disproportionately. Also known as high-altitude disease; high-altitude erythremia; Monge's disease; seroche.