Pathophysiology and Therapy of High-Altitude Sickness: Practical Approach in Emergency and Critical Care
High altitude can be a hostile environment and a paradigm of how environmental factors can determine illness when human biological adaptability is exceeded. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of high-altitude sickness, including its epidemiology, pathophysiology, and treatments. The f...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-07-01
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| Series: | Journal of Clinical Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/11/14/3937 |
| _version_ | 1797446262150135808 |
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| author | Gabriele Savioli Iride Francesca Ceresa Giulia Gori Federica Fumoso Nicole Gri Valentina Floris Angelica Varesi Ermelinda Martuscelli Sara Marchisio Yaroslava Longhitano Giovanni Ricevuti Ciro Esposito Guido Caironi Guido Giardini Christian Zanza |
| author_facet | Gabriele Savioli Iride Francesca Ceresa Giulia Gori Federica Fumoso Nicole Gri Valentina Floris Angelica Varesi Ermelinda Martuscelli Sara Marchisio Yaroslava Longhitano Giovanni Ricevuti Ciro Esposito Guido Caironi Guido Giardini Christian Zanza |
| author_sort | Gabriele Savioli |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | High altitude can be a hostile environment and a paradigm of how environmental factors can determine illness when human biological adaptability is exceeded. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of high-altitude sickness, including its epidemiology, pathophysiology, and treatments. The first section of our work defines high altitude and considers the mechanisms of adaptation to it and the associated risk factors for low adaptability. The second section discusses the main high-altitude diseases, highlighting how environmental factors can lead to the loss of homeostasis, compromising important vital functions. Early recognition of clinical symptoms is important for the establishment of the correct therapy. The third section focuses on high-altitude pulmonary edema, which is one of the main high-altitude diseases. With a deeper understanding of the pathogenesis of high-altitude diseases, as well as a reasoned approach to environmental or physical factors, we examine the main high-altitude diseases. Such an approach is critical for the effective treatment of patients in a hostile environment, or treatment in the emergency room after exposure to extreme physical or environmental factors. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:37:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1485c1b62d34409282a32a353f540524 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-0383 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:37:47Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Clinical Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-1485c1b62d34409282a32a353f5405242023-11-30T21:09:32ZengMDPI AGJournal of Clinical Medicine2077-03832022-07-011114393710.3390/jcm11143937Pathophysiology and Therapy of High-Altitude Sickness: Practical Approach in Emergency and Critical CareGabriele Savioli0Iride Francesca Ceresa1Giulia Gori2Federica Fumoso3Nicole Gri4Valentina Floris5Angelica Varesi6Ermelinda Martuscelli7Sara Marchisio8Yaroslava Longhitano9Giovanni Ricevuti10Ciro Esposito11Guido Caironi12Guido Giardini13Christian Zanza14Department of Emergency Medicine and Surgery, IRCCS Fondazione Policlinico San Matteo, 27100 Pavia, ItalyDepartment of Emergency, Ospedale Civile, 27029 Vigevano, ItalyDepartment of Internal Medicine, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, ItalyDepartment of Internal Medicine, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, ItalySchool of Medicine, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, ItalySchool of Medicine, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, ItalySchool of Medicine, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, ItalyDepartment of Emergency Medicine (ASL AL), San Giacomo Hospital, 15067 Novi Ligure, ItalyDepartment of Emergency Medicine (ASL AL), San Giacomo Hospital, 15067 Novi Ligure, ItalyDepartment of Emergency Medicine (ASL AL), San Giacomo Hospital, 15067 Novi Ligure, ItalyDepartment of Drug Science, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, ItalyNephrology and Dialysis Unit, ICS Maugeri, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, ItalyRegistered Nurse Supporting Prehospital Emergency Service ASST 118, 22100 Como, ItalyNeurology and Stroke Unit, Ospedale Regionale “U.Parini”, 11100 Aosta, ItalyDepartment of Emergency Medicine (ASL AL), San Giacomo Hospital, 15067 Novi Ligure, ItalyHigh altitude can be a hostile environment and a paradigm of how environmental factors can determine illness when human biological adaptability is exceeded. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of high-altitude sickness, including its epidemiology, pathophysiology, and treatments. The first section of our work defines high altitude and considers the mechanisms of adaptation to it and the associated risk factors for low adaptability. The second section discusses the main high-altitude diseases, highlighting how environmental factors can lead to the loss of homeostasis, compromising important vital functions. Early recognition of clinical symptoms is important for the establishment of the correct therapy. The third section focuses on high-altitude pulmonary edema, which is one of the main high-altitude diseases. With a deeper understanding of the pathogenesis of high-altitude diseases, as well as a reasoned approach to environmental or physical factors, we examine the main high-altitude diseases. Such an approach is critical for the effective treatment of patients in a hostile environment, or treatment in the emergency room after exposure to extreme physical or environmental factors.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/11/14/3937high mountainacclimatizationacute mountain sicknesshigh-altitude cerebral edemahigh-altitude pulmonary edemaemergency medicine |
| spellingShingle | Gabriele Savioli Iride Francesca Ceresa Giulia Gori Federica Fumoso Nicole Gri Valentina Floris Angelica Varesi Ermelinda Martuscelli Sara Marchisio Yaroslava Longhitano Giovanni Ricevuti Ciro Esposito Guido Caironi Guido Giardini Christian Zanza Pathophysiology and Therapy of High-Altitude Sickness: Practical Approach in Emergency and Critical Care Journal of Clinical Medicine high mountain acclimatization acute mountain sickness high-altitude cerebral edema high-altitude pulmonary edema emergency medicine |
| title | Pathophysiology and Therapy of High-Altitude Sickness: Practical Approach in Emergency and Critical Care |
| title_full | Pathophysiology and Therapy of High-Altitude Sickness: Practical Approach in Emergency and Critical Care |
| title_fullStr | Pathophysiology and Therapy of High-Altitude Sickness: Practical Approach in Emergency and Critical Care |
| title_full_unstemmed | Pathophysiology and Therapy of High-Altitude Sickness: Practical Approach in Emergency and Critical Care |
| title_short | Pathophysiology and Therapy of High-Altitude Sickness: Practical Approach in Emergency and Critical Care |
| title_sort | pathophysiology and therapy of high altitude sickness practical approach in emergency and critical care |
| topic | high mountain acclimatization acute mountain sickness high-altitude cerebral edema high-altitude pulmonary edema emergency medicine |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/11/14/3937 |
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