Acute Mountain Sickness, High Altitude Pulmonary Edema, and High Altitude Cerebral Edema: A view from the High Andes

Highlights

•

High altitude adaptation physiology with a new focus from the highland physicians.

•

50 years of diagnosing and treating AMS, HAPE and HACE at altitude without descent.

•

It is essential to diagnose and treat concomitant or underlying pathologies.

•

The HAPE tongue can be present and a useful diagnostic tool.

•

The benefits of exposure and life under chronic hypobaric hypoxia.

Abstract

Background

Travelling to high altitude for entertainment or work is sometimes associated with acute high altitude pathologies. In the past, scientific literature from the lowlanders’ point of view was mostly based on mountain climbing. Nowadays, descent is not mandatory in populated highland cities.

Methods

We present how to diagnose and treat acute high altitude pathologies (hypobaric hypoxic diseases) based on 50 years of experience in both: high altitude physiology research and medical practice as clinicians, in La Paz, Bolivia (3,600 m; 11,811 ft), at the High Altitude Pulmonary and Pathology Institute (HAPPI – IPPA).

Results

Acute Mountain Sickness, High Altitude Pulmonary Edema, and High Altitude Cerebral Edema are medical conditions faced by some travelers. These can occasionally present after flights to high altitude cities, both in lowlanders or in high altitude residents during re-entry, having spent more than 20 days at sea level.

Conclusions

Traveling to high altitude should not be feared as it has many benefits; Acute high altitude ascent diseases can be adequately diagnosed and treated without descent.