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Review
. 2022 Sep 26;39(1):27-36.
doi: 10.1515/reveh-2022-0117. Print 2024 Mar 25.

Can acute high-altitude sickness be predicted in advance?

Yan Guo  1   2 , Xiao Liu  3 , Qiang Zhang  4 , Zhongshan Shi  5 , Menglan Zhang  2 , Jie Chen  2
Affiliations
Review

Can acute high-altitude sickness be predicted in advance?

Yan Guo et al. Rev Environ Health. .

Abstract

In high-altitude environments, the oxygen and air density are decreased, and the temperature and humidity are low. When individuals enter high-altitude areas, they are prone to suffering from acute mountain sickness (AMS) because they cannot tolerate hypoxia. Headache, fatigue, dizziness, and gastrointestinal reactions are the main symptoms of AMS. When these symptoms cannot be effectively alleviated, they can progress to life-threatening high-altitude pulmonary edema or high-altitude cerebral edema. If the risk of AMS can be effectively assessed before people enter high-altitude areas, then the high-risk population can be promptly discouraged from entering the area, or drug intervention can be established in advance to prevent AMS occurrence and avoid serious outcomes. This article reviews recent studies related to the early-warning biological indicators of AMS to provide a new perspective on the prevention of AMS.

Keywords: acute mountain sickness; biological warning; genetic factors; physiological indicators.

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