SnowBrains Header logo
  • Store
  • Podcast
  • Snow Forecasts
  • Conditions Reports
  • Gear
  • Avalanche Forecast
  •  
SnowBrains Facebook Page SnowBrains Twitter Page SnowBrains Instagram Page SnowBrains YouTube Page SnowBrains RSS Feed

Edema

HAPE: The High-Altitude Killer

What is HAPE? The most common cause of death directly attributed to altitude is High Altitude Pulmonary Edema, or “HAPE.” Caused by a lack of oxygen, HAPE is an advanced stage of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). In conjunction with the breakdown of glucose, fats, and amino acids, oxygen is necessary for our bodies to produce energy. Too little of it […]

Post Tag for BrainsBrains
Tony Miller | February 1, 2020
0 Comments

High Altitude Pulmonary Edema: A Silent Killer In The Mountains

High altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) is a life-threatening high-altitude related illness that can cripple even the healthiest mountain athletes. When ascending to high altitudes, over 2500 meters (8200 feet), arteries in the lungs begin to experience high amounts of pressure, leading to fluid accumulation in the alveoli. The fluid buildup inhibits the uptake of oxygen and release of carbon dioxide, […]

Post Tag for BrainsBrains
Ryan Nadiak | July 17, 2019
0 Comments

All About HAPE: The Most Fatal Altitude Sickness

Image of High Altitude Pulmonary Edema at different stages of being treated

High altitude pulmonary edema, or HAPE, is the most deadly type of altitude sickness. HAPE is a condition where a person’s lungs fill with fluid, preventing oxygenation of blood and causing a variety of unpleasant symptoms. It usually occurs within 4-5 days of reaching an altitude greater than 8000 feet and often happens to people who are physically fit and […]

Tanner Blake | October 1, 2018
0 Comments

Share your story:

Submit A Link

Top 10 Trending right now:

  • Top 7 Steepest Chairlifts in the United States
    Top 7 Steepest Chairlifts in the United States
  • [UPDATED: July 18] NOAA Winter 2025-26 Outlook: Long-Lead Seasonal Outlook Gives Sneak Peek of Next Winter
    [UPDATED: July 18] NOAA Winter 2025-26 Outlook: Long-Lead Seasonal Outlook Gives Sneak Peek of Next Winter
  • Italian Extreme Sports Icon Dies in 200-Meter Fall in Gröden/Val Gardena, Italy
    Italian Extreme Sports Icon Dies in 200-Meter Fall in Gröden/Val Gardena, Italy
  • Austrian Ski Resort Faces Permanent Closure as Demolition of Ski Lifts Looms
    Austrian Ski Resort Faces Permanent Closure as Demolition of Ski Lifts Looms
  • The 10 Biggest Ski Resorts on the East Coast
    The 10 Biggest Ski Resorts on the East Coast
  • 11 Top Ski Brands and Their Equivalent Automobile Brand
    11 Top Ski Brands and Their Equivalent Automobile Brand
  • 22-Year-Old Trail Runner Dies After Slipping on Snow-Covered Trail in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria
    22-Year-Old Trail Runner Dies After Slipping on Snow-Covered Trail in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria
  • These are the 9 Dream Ski Trips Our Readers Would Go on if Money Were No Object
    These are the 9 Dream Ski Trips Our Readers Would Go on if Money Were No Object
  • Extreme Sportsman Felix Baumgartner Dies in Paragliding Accident in Italy’s Porto Sant'Elpidio
    Extreme Sportsman Felix Baumgartner Dies in Paragliding Accident in Italy’s Porto Sant'Elpidio
  • Solo Hiker Found Dead in Italian Dolomites After Missing for 5 Days
    Solo Hiker Found Dead in Italian Dolomites After Missing for 5 Days
  • Meet the Team
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Policy
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy
  • Site Map