Altitude sickness

      Altitude sickness is a general term encom­passing a spectrum of disorders that occur at higher altitudes. Since the severity of symptoms varies with altitude, it is im­portant to understand the range of the different altitudes that may be involved. High altitude is defined as height greater man 8,000 feet (2,438 m); medium altitude is defined as height between 5,000 and 8,000 feet (1,524-2,438 m); and extreme altitude is defined as height greater than 19,000 feet (5,791 m The majority of healthy individuals suffer from altitude 5-ckness when they reach very high altitudes. In addition, about 20% of people ascending above 9,000 (2,743 m) feet in c-ne day will develop altitude sickness. Children under six years and women in the premenstrual part of their cycles may be more vulnerable. Individuals with preexisting medical conditions—even a minor respiratory infection—may become sick at more moderate altitudes.