Acute mountain sickness

Summary Each year millions of people travel to high altitude regions, i.e. 2500 metres above sea level to explore beautiful places or to realise to accomplish their mountaineering passions. Such high altitudes can induce health-related problems, called acute mountain sickness (AMS). The severity of the disease varies with altitude. The most common symptoms are headaches, weakness, and lack of appetite, which affect individuals living in lowland regions, who are not adjusted to the different mountain environment. The development of AMS can be simply prevented by gradual ascent. Moreover, there are pharmaceutical agents, which help to alleviate the symptoms.