altitude sickness

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.

altitude sickness

noun

1. another name for mountain sickness

Word History and Origins

Origin of altitude sickness¹

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

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

From Los Angeles Times

Lieutenant Alkonis’s family and supporters insisted that he had suffered from altitude sickness and been denied due process in a foreign court system that gave little weight to his guilty plea and repeated apologies.

From New York Times

The only thing that really scared her about the climb was the possibility of altitude sickness.

From Los Angeles Times

An official said most were poorly equipped, suffering hypothermia or altitude sickness.

From Reuters

Deaths are not uncommon, either from the snowslides, storms or altitude sickness.

From New York Times