Problem
Hypoxia
Other Names:
Oxygen stressHigh altitude stress
Adverse health effects of high elevation conditions
Polycthemia
Mountain sickness
Andes disease
Aviators' disease
Hypobaropathy
Altitude sickenss
Nature:
Air gets "thinner" (less dense) with increasing altitude. Shortage of oxygen (hypoxia) and very low air (barometric) pressure can give rise to physiopathological problems. Persons transferring to and from high altitudes (above 3,000 to 3,500 metres) are susceptible to attacks of mountain sickness. Milder symptoms are: nausea, lethargy, headaches, lack of appetite, difficulty breathing, and sleeplessness. Individual response as regards severity and duration may vary, but working capacity is always affected. Persons transferred to high altitudes, even when acclimatized, remain susceptible to headache, insomnia, hypoxia and related conditions. The condition is aggravated by the increased intensity of ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Acute exposure to high altitude can severely reduce working capacity.
Incidence:
Approximately 25 million people live and work at altitudes over 3,000 metres.
Children and teenagers are more susceptible to altitude sickness than adults.
Broader Problems:
AnoxemiaAir pressure injuriesStress in human beings Narrower Problems:
Barotrauma Related Problems:
Cluster headachesMarine oxygen deficiencyAnoxemia References:
Heath, Donald: Aspects of HypoxiaWinslow, Robert M and C, Carlos Monge: Hypoxia, Polycythemia, and Chronic Mountain Sickness Subject(s):
Amenities → Living conditionsGeology → Mountains
Health Care → Health
Medicine → Pathology
Medicine → Physiology
Psychology → Stress
Transportation, Telecommunications → Aviation
Related UN Sustainable Development Goals:
Problem Type:
E: Emanations of other problems Date of last update
04.10.2020 – 22:48 CEST