altitude sickness

American  

noun

Pathology.

1. a condition affecting some persons at high altitudes, caused by insufficient oxygen in the blood and characterized by dizziness, nausea, and shortness of breath.

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altitude sickness British  

noun

1. another name for mountain sickness

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Etymology

Origin of altitude sickness

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

Of these, about 22,000 hectares are legal -- grown to be chewed as a stimulant, brewed into a tea thought to combat altitude sickness or used in religious rituals.

From Barron's • Nov. 21, 2025

One person had died from hypothermia and altitude sickness, but the others were reportedly in good condition.

From BBC • Oct. 11, 2025

Their oxygen supply dwindled, producing a syndrome resembling altitude sickness, due to a miscalculation about photosynthesis.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 16, 2024

Coca leaves are widely used in different countries in Latin America, especially by indigenous groups, to treat stomach aches and altitude sickness, among other ceremonial uses.

From Reuters • Feb. 22, 2023

A court found he had been negligent by falling into a “state of drowsiness” at the wheel, rejecting his assertion that he had lost consciousness while suffering from altitude sickness.

From New York Times • Feb. 21, 2023