A disease that occurs in people living above 8200ft altitude.
It is characterized by low blood oxygen levels and an increase in circulating red blood cells. Those suffering from sleep apnea or other lung diseases are more often affected, while the hormones of women of childbearing age can prevent it.
It is characterized by a bluish coloration of the skin (cyanosis), poor tolerance to exercise and by the presence of nervous symptoms attributed to decreased cerebral blood flow due to hyper-viscosity of the blood. Dizziness, headache, drowsiness, depression, tinnitus, fatigue, anorexia, palpitations, irritability and hallucinations may occur as a result.
Diagnosis is based on clinical history and a complete physical examination. Blood tests show oxygen deficiency, excess carbon dioxide, and excess red blood cells.
Treatment is based on descent to sea level, and sometimes bloodletting is used to reduce the number of red blood cells (hematocrit), improve blood viscosity, and thus improve symptoms of nervous origin.
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- Troy Tuttle, Asif Ali, David Filsoof, John Higgins. High altitude, air travel, and heart disease. UpToDate. Sep 08, 2015.
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