acute mountain sickness

noun

: altitude sickness that is experienced usually within several hours to one day of ascending above 8000 to 10,000 feet (about 2500 to 3000 meters) and that is marked by headache, nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, insomnia, dizziness, and fatigue, and may lead to serious complications including severe edema of the brain or lungs

—abbreviation AMS

Examples of acute mountain sickness in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Other medications, including ibuprofen, have shown some effectiveness in treating acute mountain sickness, although not as well as acetazolamide. —Brian Strickland, Discover Magazine, 9 Mar. 2024

Altitude sickness, which most commonly refers to acute mountain sickness, presents a significant challenge to those traveling to and adventuring in high-altitude destinations. —Brian Strickland, Discover Magazine, 9 Mar. 2024

However, the symptoms of dehydration are quite similar to those of acute mountain sickness. —Allie Conti, Field & Stream, 27 Sep. 2023

To begin with, there are three kinds of altitude sickness: acute mountain sickness, high-altitude cerebral edema, and high-altitude pulmonary edema. —Allie Conti, Field & Stream, 27 Sep. 2023

The acute mountain sickness diagnosis came later, when Lt. Alkonis was evaluated by a U.S. Navy neurologist after his release from jail. —The Editorial Board, WSJ, 1 Mar. 2023

And in 2015, a 14-year-old called Warren Asiyo died from acute mountain sickness while on a church trip. —Kang-Chun Cheng, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 Oct. 2022

Jonathan Franks, a spokesman for the family, says a Navy neurologist said that Lt. Alkonis had suffered acute mountain sickness. —The Editorial Board, WSJ, 8 Jan. 2023

His symptoms — paleness and a loss of consciousness — align with those of acute mountain sickness, which can affect people at altitudes above 8,000 feet, according to information published by the U.S. National Library of Medicine. —Andrew Jeong, Washington Post, 27 Aug. 2022

Word History

First Known Use

1903, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

acute mountain sickness

noun

: altitude sickness that is experienced usually within several hours to one day of ascending above 8000 to 10,000 feet (about 2500 to 3000 meters) and that is marked by headache, nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, insomnia, dizziness, and fatigue

Note: Acute mountain sickness can lead to serious complications including severe edema of the brain or lungs.

… acute mountain sickness … is common in travelers who ascend rapidly to altitudes above 8,000 feet.

—Erick A. Weiss, Rock & Ice Magazine

—abbreviation AMS