What are the early signs of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS)?

• A. Headache, nausea, dizziness, anorexia, fatigue, sleep disturbance.
• B. Chest pain and dyspnea on exertion.
• C. Skin rashes and joint swelling.
• D. Seizures and coma.

Answer: (A)

Early signs of Acute Mountain Sickness come from the brain and body reacting to lower oxygen at height. The most common early symptoms are a headache along with nausea, dizziness, loss of appetite, fatigue, and disturbed sleep. These typically begin within hours after moving to a higher elevation, especially once you’re above roughly 2,500–3,000 meters, and they indicate mild AMS. The headache is the hallmark, and the other symptoms reflect the overall stress of hypoxia on the body.

If symptoms worsen or new signs appear—such as confusion, inability to walk straight, persistent vomiting, or severe fatigue—it’s a signal to descend and seek care, as the risk of progressing to more serious conditions increases.

The other choices don’t fit early AMS because chest pain and trouble breathing on exertion point more toward high-altitude pulmonary edema or heart-related issues; skin rashes and joint swelling suggest allergic or inflammatory problems; seizures and coma indicate severe brain involvement or another serious emergency.