CLIMBERS and skiers who suffer from a potentially deadly condition could benefit from new treatments as a result of research by Scottish scientists.
Experts from the University of Edinburgh have shown for the first time that altitude sickness, which is triggered by falling oxygen levels and happens when people reach heights of more than 8202ft, is actually two different illnesses.
It is believed that the research will lead to further work on each individual condition, helping doctors to correctly diagnose patients and then offer the best treatment for them.
Dr Ken Baillie, of the Roslin Institute at Edinburgh University, said: "For more than two decades, we have thought of altitude sickness as a single disease.
"We have now shown that it is at least two separate syndromes that happen to occur in the same people at a similar time.
"Studying these syndromes in isolation will make it easier to understand the cause of each one and to test new treatments."
Altitude sickness is relatively common among climbers who reach certain heights and most cases cause mild symptoms such as headaches, nausea, dizziness and exhaustion.
But in more severe cases it can be life-threatening, causing fluid to build up either on the lungs or the brain.
The researchers used computer analysis to study patterns of symptoms among people in high altitude areas in Bolivia and Tanzania.
The findings, published in the PLOS One journal, will be presented at an international altitude sickness meeting.
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article