Ch 28 Key Terms Flashcards
acclimatization
the body’s physiologic process of gradual adjustment to changes in such factors as light, temperature, or altitude.
acute mountain sickness (AMS)
a usually mild medical condition that is caused by exposure to high altitude.
altitude illness
encompasses all types of illness due to altitude (AMS, HAPE, and HACE).
ataxia
uncoordinated muscle movements; at high altitudes, it is associated with HACE.
chilblains
a skin condition resembling frost nip that results from prolonged exposure to cold, wet conditions.
Gamow bag
a portable hyperbaric chamber that is used to treat highaltitude sickness.
high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE)
a potentially deadly condition in which the brain swells in individuals at high altitude.
high-altitude pulmonary edema
HAPE
a condition in which fluid accumulates in the lungs of individuals at high altitude.
hypoxemia
insufficient oxygenation of the blood.
khumbu cough
a dry, persistent cough caused by inhaling excessively cold dry air that is typical at high altitude; also known as high-altitude bronchitis.
sleeping altitude
the altitude to which a climber descends to sleep to prevent AMS; is typically 500–1,000 feet below the highest elevation of that day’s ascent.
