Can acute high-altitude sickness be predicted in advance?

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.