High altitude cerebral edema (HACE) is a potentially fatal fluid buildup in the brain, considered a severe form of acute mountain sickness. Urgent treatment is essential. Symptoms include severe headache, vomiting, lethargy, ataxia (unsteadiness), confusion, drowsiness, and possible coma. A useful diagnostic test is the inability to walk heel-to-toe in a straight line. Irrational or […]
High altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) is a life-threatening condition where fluid accumulates in the lungs at altitudes above 8,000 feet, usually developing within 2-3 days. Symptoms include acute mountain sickness, breathlessness, cough with white or pink frothy sputum, a sound resembling crumpled paper when breathing, rapid heart rate, blue lips, and elevated body temperature. HAPE […]
Yes. Acute mountain sickness can progress to high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) or high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE). Both can be fatal. It is good to take cases of mountain sickness seriously and watch for symptoms of HAPE or HACE.
There is less oxygen at altitude; it should be no surprise that it causes people to feel unwell. How this shortage of oxygen leads to altitude sickness is still not fully understood. Many scientists believe it is due to swelling of the brain caused by increased blood flow. Two things are certain to make altitude […]
Six to eight hours of oxygenation restores your body to sea-level conditions. Altitude sickness generally does not start immediately. It usually needs one or two days at altitude before symptoms develop. Oxygen interrupts the exposure to hypoxia and “restarts the clock” on altitude sickness. Oxygenation eliminates the cause of altitude-related insomnia. So you sleep better […]
Several studies have shown that children have similar rates of mountain sickness, pulmonary edema and cerebral edema as adults. Children do get altitude sickness, but the very young are often unable to communicate their headache and other symptoms. Excessive crying at altitude could be altitude illness.