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Altitude sickness

Also called: acute mountain sickness
Physical distress from difficulty adjusting to lower oxygen pressure at high altitude.
  • Usually self-treatable
  • Usually self-diagnosable
  • Lab tests or imaging rarely required
  • Short-term: resolves within days to weeks
Most cases of altitude sickness are mild, but some may be life-threatening.
Common: More than 200,000 US cases per year
Consult a doctor for medical advice Sources: Mayo Clinic and others. Learn more
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It is caused by gaining altitude too rapidly, which doesn't allow the body enough time to adjust to reduced oxygen and changes in air pressure, and causes ...
Altitude sickness can happen when you're at a high altitude. It usually gets better in a few days with rest, but it can sometimes be life-threatening and ...
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