Acute mountain sickness, HACE and HAPE

Altitude sickness can occur when you travel to a high altitude too quickly. Breathing becomes difficult because you aren't able to take in as much oxygen.Altitude sickness, also called acute mountain sickness (AMS), can become a medical emergency if ignored.

Age, sex or physical fitness have no bearing on your likelihood of getting altitude sickness. Just because you haven't had it before doesn't mean you won't develop it on another trip.

For more information on AMS, HACE and HAPE, and to download a handy book about traveling at altitude visit the Medex website.

• HOW WE HELP PATIENTS
• The story behind the image
• From mountainside to bedside
• Learning from life at the limits
• Acute mountain sickness, HACE and HAPE
• Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)
• Blue Baby Syndrome
• Congenital heart disease
• Cystic fibrosis
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Oxygen deficiency
• Sepsis/septic shock
• Information about ICU and support offered