mountain sickness

American  

noun

Pathology.

1. altitude sickness.

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mountain sickness British  

noun

1. Also called: altitude sickness.  nausea, headache, and shortness of breath caused by climbing to high altitudes (usually above 12 000 ft)

2. vet science a disease of cattle kept at high altitude in S and N America, characterized by congestive heart failure

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Etymology

Origin of mountain sickness

First recorded in 1840–50

Example Sentences

In his defence, US Navy doctors said he had been suffering from acute mountain sickness at the time of the accident.

From BBC • Feb. 17, 2024

In his appeal, Alkonis said he lost consciousness before the crash after suffering from acute mountain sickness following a hiking trip to Mount Fuji.

From Washington Times • Jan. 11, 2023

The symptoms of acute mountain sickness include headache, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, loss of appetite, and flulike malaise, and they can all occur without any physical exertion.

From Slate • Feb. 26, 2018

As early as 1787, Horace-Bénédict de Saussure, conducting earth sciences research, documented mountain sickness there.

From New York Times • Nov. 14, 2012

There was every indication that if persons liable to this uncomfortable complaint were brought up to this elevation, or indeed any attainable elevation, under unreduced pressure, the symptoms of mountain sickness would be unknown.

From Astronomy: The Science of the Heavenly Bodies by Todd, David Peck