High-altitude exposure and its effects on special populations
| Autor: | Robert N. Suter, Monica G. Kalra |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2011 |
| Předmět: |
medicine.medical_specialty
education.field_of_study Special populations business.industry Population Primary care Effects of high altitude on humans medicine.disease Preeclampsia Altitude Increased risk Emergency medicine medicine Family Practice Intensive care medicine business education High-altitude cerebral edema |
| Zdroj: | Osteopathic Family Physician. 3:202-206 |
| ISSN: | 1877-573X |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.osfp.2010.10.003 |
| Popis: | Altitude illness is a spectrum of conditions that affect the majority of travelers to high elevations (>8200 ft [2500 m]). The rapid decrease in arterial oxygen saturation with increasing altitude is the physiologic basis for this group of disorders. Many travelers to high altitudes will experience symptoms of acute mountain sickness including headache, fatigue, dyspnea, and dizziness. Prolonged exposure can result in more serious pulmonary, central nervous system, and circulatory disorders. Core treatments for most altitude-related illnesses include descent, rest, medications, and supportive care. Children and travelers with chronic diseases are more susceptible to altitude illness compared with the general population. Pregnant women residing at high altitudes are at increased risk for pregnancy-induced hypertension, preeclampsia, and low-birth-weight infants. Early recognition and treatment of altitude illness can prevent life-threatening situations. Primary care physicians should counsel patients traveling to high altitudes about altitude illness and discuss medications available for mountain sickness prophylaxis. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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