Chronic mountain sickness (CMS) is a disease that affects many high-altitude dwellers, particularly in the Andean Mountains in South America. The hallmark symptom of CMS is polycythemia, which causes increased risk of pulmonary hypertension and stroke (among other symptoms). A prevailing hypothesis in high-altitude medicine is that CMS results from a population-specific "maladaptation" to the h...

BACKGROUND Studies show that the well-prepared traveller is less likely to suffer travel related illness. This study is designed to examine trekkers' knowledge of altitude sickness in an attempt to see whether knowledge can protect against acute mountain sickness (AMS) and high altitude pulmonary or cerebral oedema (HAPE/HACE). METHODS A convenience sample of 130 trekkers were interviewed in ...

BACKGROUND Hypoxemia is the immediate consequence of hyobaric hypoxia, which is the crucial starting mechanism of acute mountain sickness (AMS). The AMS is generally a benign and self-limiting condition which can be prevented by gradual ascent. However, ascent rates recommended for prophylaxis of AMS are far slower than those attempted during military operations and by climbers. OBJECTIVE The...

Altitude illness severely limits operational effectiveness of dismounted Warriors in mountainous terrains. Commanders, therefore, need accurate estimates and predictors of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), the most common altitude illness, to effectively plan and manage missions to altitude. Purpose The purpose of this project was to utilize the USARIEM Mountain Medicine relational database (26 st...