Altitude sickness history and symptoms

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Farima Kahe M.D. [2]

Overview

Patients with altitude sickness may have a positive history of underlying lung disease and substances or conditions that interfere with acclimatization. Common symptoms of altitude sickness include headache, dizziness, fatigue, cyanosis.

History

High Altitude Categories:

Classification	Altitude(mts)	Altitude(feet)
High altitude	1,500-3,500 mts	4,921-11,483 feet
Very high altitude	3,500-5,500 mts	11,483-18,045 feet
Extreme altitude	5,500-8,850 mts	18,045-29,035 feet

Patients with altitude sickness may have a positive history of:

Substances (alcohol) or conditions that interfere with acclimatization
Comorbidities that interfere with respiration such as neuromuscular disease or pulmonary hypertension
Sleep apnea
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Restrictive lung disease
Cystic fibrosis
Pneumonia
Pulmonary hypertension
Carotid artery surgery or neck radiation

Symptoms

Common symptoms of altitude sickness include:^[1]^[2]
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Tinnitus
- Breathlessness
- Palpitations
- Sleep disturbance
- Fatigue
- Anorexia
- Mental confusion
- Cyanosis
- Dilation of veins
- Loss of appetite

Less common symptoms of altitude sickness include:^[3]
- Nausea or vomiting
- Rapid pulse (heart rate)
- Shortness of breath with exertion
- Chest tightness or congestion
- Confusion
- Cough
- Coughing up blood
- Decreased consciousness or withdrawal from social interaction
- Gray or pale complexion
- Inability to walk in a straight line, or to walk at all
- Shortness of breath at rest

References

↑ Taylor AT (January 2011). “High-altitude illnesses: physiology, risk factors, prevention, and treatment”. Rambam Maimonides Med J. 2 (1): e0022. doi:10.5041/RMMJ.10022. PMC 3678789. PMID 23908794.
↑ Schoene RB (August 2008). “Illnesses at high altitude”. Chest. 134 (2): 402–416. doi:10.1378/chest.07-0561. PMID 18682459.
↑ Basnyat B, Murdoch DR (June 2003). “High-altitude illness”. Lancet. 361 (9373): 1967–74. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(03)13591-X. PMID 12801752.

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[pmid23908794-1] Taylor AT (January 2011). “High-altitude illnesses: physiology, risk factors, prevention, and treatment”. Rambam Maimonides Med J. 2 (1): e0022. doi:10.5041/RMMJ.10022. PMC 3678789. PMID 23908794.

[pmid18682459-2] Schoene RB (August 2008). “Illnesses at high altitude”. Chest. 134 (2): 402–416. doi:10.1378/chest.07-0561. PMID 18682459.

[pmid12801752-3] Basnyat B, Murdoch DR (June 2003). “High-altitude illness”. Lancet. 361 (9373): 1967–74. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(03)13591-X. PMID 12801752.

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