Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS): Difference between revisions

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== Prevalence and Risk Factors ==
== Prevalence and Risk Factors ==
There is a prevalence of 0-25% at moderate altitudes, which depend on [[Body Composition|individual physical characteristics]]. Severe obesity and pulmonary disease are some risk factors to consider.  
There is a prevalence of 0-25% at moderate altitudes, which depend on [[Body Composition|individual physical characteristics]]. Severe obesity and pulmonary disease are some risk factors to consider. <ref name=":3" />




Living or sleeping at moderate altitude, however, would not cause discomfort from hypoxia. Exposures from a few minutes to a few hours to even greater altitudes (5000-6000m) are too short to cause AMS, and would be tolerated by healthy athletes at rest and during exercise. In addition, life-threatening high-altitude pulmonary and cerebral [[Pulmonary Oedema|oedema]] seldom occur below 3000-4000m, though this can be the case after several days of exposure at the higher-altitude locations. <ref name=":3">Bergeron MF, Bahr R, Bartsch P, Bourdon L, Calbet JAL, Carlsen KH, Castagna O, Gonazalez-Alonso J, Lundby C, Maughan RJ, Millet G, Mountjoy M, Racinais S, Rasmussen P, Singh DG, Subudhi AW, Young AJ, Soligard T, Engebretsen L. [https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/46/11/770.long<nowiki> International Olympic Committee consensus statement on thermoregulatory and altitude challenges for high-level athletes.] British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2012:46:770-779</nowiki></ref>
Living or sleeping at moderate altitude would not cause discomfort from hypoxia. Exposures of a few minutes to a few hours at greater altitudes (5000-6000m) are short of a duration to cause AMS, hence would be tolerated by healthy athletes at rest and during exercise. In addition, life-threatening high-altitude [[Pulmonary Oedema|pulmonary oedema]] and cerebral oedema hardly occur below 3000-4000m. However, they can occur after many days of exposure at a higher altitude. <ref name=":3">Bergeron MF, Bahr R, Bartsch P, Bourdon L, Calbet JAL, Carlsen KH, Castagna O, Gonazalez-Alonso J, Lundby C, Maughan RJ, Millet G, Mountjoy M, Racinais S, Rasmussen P, Singh DG, Subudhi AW, Young AJ, Soligard T, Engebretsen L. [https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/46/11/770.long<nowiki> International Olympic Committee consensus statement on thermoregulatory and altitude challenges for high-level athletes.] British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2012:46:770-779</nowiki></ref>  


The severity of the symptoms of AMS progressively increase with higher altitudes. These can be assessed with the [[Lake Louise Questionnaire for the Symptoms of Acute Mountain Sickness|Lake Louise scoring system]].
== Symptoms ==
 
Symptoms can include a headache, and one of: <ref name=":5">Mohajeri S, Perkins B.A, Brubaker P.L, Riddell M.C. [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/276210382_Diabetes_trekking_and_high_altitude_Recognizing_and_preparing_for_the_risks Review article - Diabetes, trekking and high altitude: recognizing and preparing for the risks.] Diabetic Medicine. 2015:32:1425-2437</ref>
Symptoms can include a headache, and one of:
*Fatigue,
*Fatigue,
*Dizziness,
*Dizziness,
*Nausea,
*Nausea,
*[[Anorexia Nervosa|Anorexia]], or
*[[Anorexia Nervosa|Anorexia]], or
*Sleep disturbance. <ref name=":5">Mohajeri S, Perkins B.A, Brubaker P.L, Riddell M.C. [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/276210382_Diabetes_trekking_and_high_altitude_Recognizing_and_preparing_for_the_risks Review article - Diabetes, trekking and high altitude: recognizing and preparing for the risks.] Diabetic Medicine. 2015:32:1425-2437</ref>
*Sleep disturbance.  
 
== Outcome Measure ==
The severity of the symptoms of AMS progressively increase with higher altitudes. These can be assessed with the [[Lake Louise Questionnaire for the Symptoms of Acute Mountain Sickness|Lake Louise Questionnaire]]<nowiki/>for the symptoms of Acute Mountain Sickness. Please see the respective page for information on the Questionnaire.


== Treatment and Prevention ==
== Treatment and Prevention ==

Revision as of 00:24, 17 October 2023

Original Editor - Kapil Narale

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Introduction[edit | edit source]

Acute Mountain Sickness is a self-limiting disease, which would be individually variable, and is considered similar to having a hang-over or a migraine. It can be elicited by initial exposure of non-acclimatised individuals to moderate altitude. Moderate altitude would be above 2000-3000m, and is when acute mountain sickness would start to occur, and will get worse with increasing altitude, thus acclimatisation would be very important for performance. [1]

Prevalence and Risk Factors[edit | edit source]

There is a prevalence of 0-25% at moderate altitudes, which depend on individual physical characteristics. Severe obesity and pulmonary disease are some risk factors to consider. [2]


Living or sleeping at moderate altitude would not cause discomfort from hypoxia. Exposures of a few minutes to a few hours at greater altitudes (5000-6000m) are short of a duration to cause AMS, hence would be tolerated by healthy athletes at rest and during exercise. In addition, life-threatening high-altitude pulmonary oedema and cerebral oedema hardly occur below 3000-4000m. However, they can occur after many days of exposure at a higher altitude. [2]

Symptoms[edit | edit source]

Symptoms can include a headache, and one of: [3]

  • Fatigue,
  • Dizziness,
  • Nausea,
  • Anorexia, or
  • Sleep disturbance.

Outcome Measure[edit | edit source]

The severity of the symptoms of AMS progressively increase with higher altitudes. These can be assessed with the Lake Louise Questionnairefor the symptoms of Acute Mountain Sickness. Please see the respective page for information on the Questionnaire.

Treatment and Prevention[edit | edit source]

AMS can be treated by rest and can be prevented by slow or gradual ascent.

Resources[edit | edit source]

  • bulleted list
  • x

or

  1. numbered list
  2. x

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Bergeron MF, Bahr R, Bartsch P, Bourdon L, Calbet JAL, Carlsen KH, Castagna O, Gonazalez-Alonso J, Lundby C, Maughan RJ, Millet G, Mountjoy M, Racinais S, Rasmussen P, Singh DG, Subudhi AW, Young AJ, Soligard T, Engebretsen L. International Olympic Committee consensus statement on thermoregulatory and altitude challenges for high-level athletes. British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2012:46:770-779.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Bergeron MF, Bahr R, Bartsch P, Bourdon L, Calbet JAL, Carlsen KH, Castagna O, Gonazalez-Alonso J, Lundby C, Maughan RJ, Millet G, Mountjoy M, Racinais S, Rasmussen P, Singh DG, Subudhi AW, Young AJ, Soligard T, Engebretsen L. [https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/46/11/770.long International Olympic Committee consensus statement on thermoregulatory and altitude challenges for high-level athletes.] British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2012:46:770-779
  3. ↑ Mohajeri S, Perkins B.A, Brubaker P.L, Riddell M.C. Review article - Diabetes, trekking and high altitude: recognizing and preparing for the risks. Diabetic Medicine. 2015:32:1425-2437
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