Common types of altitude illnesses

Altitude illnesses can be clinically classified into two categories: acute altitude illnesses and chronic altitude illnesses, both of which are clearly related to the low-pressure, low-oxygen environment of the altitude region. In terms of acute altitude sickness, it is usually seen after rapid entry from a low altitude area to a high altitude area, and the body has related clinical symptoms within a few days, which can be divided into acute altitude reaction, plateau pulmonary edema, and plateau cerebral edema. In terms of clinical manifestations, patients often show dizziness, headache, chest tightness, shortness of breath, palpitations, loss of appetite, loss of memory, lack of quick thinking, etc. At the same time, patients can have more obvious respiratory difficulties, and even fainting, convulsions and other related condition manifestations. In terms of chronic altitude sickness, the main cause is the chronic extension of acute altitude reaction, or because of long-term altitude in the highland area, plateau erythrocytosis, plateau blood pressure abnormalities and plateau heart disease. In terms of clinical manifestations, in addition to symptoms related to acute plateau reaction such as dizziness, headache, and loss of appetite, patients may also experience increased capillary network on the face, cardiomegaly, heart failure, and other related clinical symptoms.