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Even if you are in perfect health, you can develop altitude sickness if you ascend to elevations over 8,000 feet. The most common ascent-related illness is acute mountain sickness (AMS), and it is essentially a neurologic disorder, the symptoms caused primarily by the effects of low oxygen (hypoxia) on the brain. Symptoms of AMS usually start 6-12 hours after arrival at high altitude, attain maximum severity with 1-2 days, and begin to decease about the third day, providing additional ascent does not occur. You should remember that AMS represents the mild end of the spectrum of altitude sickness. The major concern is that it may progress to a life-threatening form of altitude sickness, namely high altitude cerebral edema (HACE). For more on this topic, click here for the complete International Travel HealthGuide Chapter 14: Altitude Sickness
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