High-altitude cerebral edema
High-altitude cerebral edema (HACE) is a severe and potentially fatal form of altitude sickness. It is characterized by swelling of the brain caused by the physiological effects of traveling to high altitudes.
Pronunciation
The term is pronounced as "high-altitude cerebral edema" (hi-AL-ti-tood ser-uh-bruhl ih-DEE-muh).
Etymology
The term "High-altitude cerebral edema" is derived from the following words: "High" (Old English 'heah'), "altitude" (Latin 'altitudo'), "cerebral" (Latin 'cerebrum' meaning brain), and "edema" (Greek 'oidēma' meaning swelling).
Symptoms
The symptoms of HACE typically include headache, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, dizziness, and confusion. In severe cases, it can lead to coma or death.
Causes
HACE is caused by exposure to reduced levels of oxygen at high altitudes, which leads to changes in the blood vessels in the brain and subsequent swelling.
Treatment
Treatment for HACE typically involves immediate descent to a lower altitude, administration of oxygen, and medications such as dexamethasone.
Prevention
Prevention strategies for HACE include gradual ascent to high altitudes, proper hydration, and use of medications such as acetazolamide for altitude sickness prevention.
Related Terms
- Altitude sickness
- Acute mountain sickness
- High-altitude pulmonary edema
- Hypoxia
- Dexamethasone
- Acetazolamide
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on High-altitude cerebral edema
- Wikipedia's article - High-altitude cerebral edema
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