altitude sickness

noun

|Updated on: 9 Jul 2018

Definition of altitude sickness

: the effects (such as headache, nausea, or swelling of the brain) of oxygen deficiency in the blood and tissues developed at high altitudes having reduced atmospheric pressure — see mountain sickness

Recent Examples of altitude sickness from the Web

Coca leaves can suppress hunger, pain and fatigue, and alleviate the symptoms of altitude sickness.

— brigit katz, Smithsonian, "How Inca Mummies Helped a Soccer Player Who Was Banned from the World Cup," 29 June 2018
The naturally-growing plant eases altitude sickness, and people trekking up high altitudes used to stuff wads of coca into their cheeks and chew on it.

— National Geographic, "How Ancient Mummies Helped This Soccer Player Get to the World Cup," 26 June 2018
Three years later and a hundred yards from the finish line, a fellow climber began suffering altitude sickness, fell unconscious and required rescue.

— alex prewitt, SI.com, "The Great Wait Is Finally Over: After 13 Seasons, Alex Ovechkin Is a Stanley Cup Champion," 11 June 2018
Another severe form of altitude sickness is high-altitude pulmonary edema, the accumulation of fluid in the lungs.

— katy scott, CNN, "The dangers of oxygen deprivation on Everest," 4 June 2018
Friends assumed the chef had altitude sickness, a misdiagnosis reinforced after the chef recovered enough to visit markets and go out to dinner.

— michael russell, OregonLive.com, "Portland restaurant community rallies behind stroke-afflicted chef," 17 May 2018
Tea made from coca leaves ground into powder is a legal, traditional drink in the Andean region and is used as a light stimulant like coffee or to counter the effects of altitude sickness.

— adriana leon, latimes.com, "Wave of anger spreads across Peru after star soccer player's coca tea leads to World Cup ban," 16 May 2018
Many South Americans in Andean countries use it for energy, to treat altitude sickness, to stay sharp.

— aaron gilbreath, Longreads, "Bolivian President Evo Morales Is Banking on the Country’s Untapped Resource: Coca Leaf," 26 Apr. 2018
So far, 19 people, some of whom will hike the mountain a week earlier to avoid altitude sickness, have signed up.

— naureen s. malik, chicagotribune.com, "If the Boston Marathon is too easy, try these crazy runs," 13 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'altitude sickness.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of altitude sickness

1901

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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Medical Dictionary

altitude sickness

noun al·ti·tude sickness \ ˌal-tə-ˌt(y)üd- \

medical Definition of altitude sickness

: the effects (as nosebleed, nausea, headache, or cerebral edema) of oxygen deficiency in the blood and tissues developed at high altitudes with reduced atmospheric pressure