[Mountain medicine - an introduction. I].
Tourism to high-altitude areas is increasingly popular even from low-lying regions such as Denmark. Mountain sports include skiing, mountaineering, and ski touring. The young, elderly and at-risk individuals with pre-existing illnesses engage in recreational mountain activities. Thus, risk assessment and counselling regarding altitude exposure is increasingly relevant to all healthcare providers. In this first article of two in a review series, we summarize the state of the art of altitude physiology, alpine dangers and avalanches, and medical aspects of the increased UV-exposure at altitude.
kasper@bjergmedicin.dk.
Kasper Fjellhaugen
KF
Hjuler
Bjørn
B
Bay
D000059:Accidents; D000531:Altitude; D055875:Avalanches; D006801:Humans; D009051:Mountaineering / Q000293:injuries / Q000502:physiology; D012865:Skiing; D000076082:Travel-Related Illness; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects; D055813:Wilderness Medicine