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 […] Brains Tony Miller | February 1, 2020 0 Comments
High-Altitude Pulmonary Edema: Why Skiers, Backpackers, and Adventurers Should Care High-altitude pulmonary edema, or HAPE, is the accumulation of fluid in the lungs; and it is deadly. It generally occurs when one rapidly ascends from a low altitude, to above roughly 2,500 meters. Risk factors include, but are not limited to ascent rate, peak altitude, and how intense physical exertion is. In addition, men are at a higher risk than women for developing HAPE. If you are an athlete who […] Industry News Shannon Fiegel | February 1, 2020 0 Comments
HAPE: The Killer We Still Don’t Understand What is HAPE, you ask? HAPE stands for High Altitude Pulmonary Edema and we still don’t really know who will develop it or why. HAPE is caused by a lack of oxygen and it is the leading killer at high altitudes. HAPE usually develops after 2 to 3 days spent at altitudes above 8,000 ft. The first sign is breathlessness […] Brains Gabrielle Gasser | February 1, 2020 0 Comments
HAPE: High-Altitudes And The Effects On Your Lungs Introduction Traveling to high-altitude places is becoming increasingly ever-so-popular, especially for outdoor lovers and adventure seekers. In Nepal, home to eight of the 14 tallest mountains in the world, the Department of Tourism issued a record-breaking 408 permits to climb Mt. Everest alone, and many more issued to summit the other extreme altitude mountains throughout the country. The demand for […] Steven Snyder | February 1, 2020 0 Comments
High-Altitude Pulmonary Edema: The Invisible Killer While there are many risks associated with being at altitude such as hypothermia or dehydration, High-Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) is the most deadly. Pulmonary Edema is fluid in the lungs and, as the name suggests, HAPE is fluid in the lungs due to prolonged time at high elevations. Typically, HAPE tends to occur in people that are above 8,000 ft, […] Backcountry Alex Camerino | February 1, 2020 0 Comments
High Altitude Pulmonary Edema | Know What it is and What to Do According to the Mayo Clinic high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE), not to be confused with pneumonia, is caused when the vessels in the lungs constrict, eventually making fluid leak to the lung tissues and into air sacs. Despite how uninviting and scary this sounds, especially to those who play or live in higher elevations it’s quite an important condition to […] Backcountry Mitchell Milbauer | February 1, 2020 0 Comments
HAPE – High Altitude Pulmonary Edema: The Lethal Consequence of Summit Fever High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) should be at the forefront of every mountaineer’s mind. HAPE is fatal if the signs and symptoms are ignored due to summit fever. HAPE is one of the leading causes of death in high altitudes with rates as high as 6% for climbers who rapidly ascend in the Alps. HAPE is a life-threatening condition that […] Brains Dominic Gawel | February 1, 2020 0 Comments
HAPE: A High Altitude Silent Threat On May 10, 1996, Scott Fischer, a world-renowned climber, and professional climbing guide, slowly ascended to the summit of Everest. Little did he notice the fatal changes happening within his body. He grew increasingly ill and mentally impaired, dying on the descent. Fischer succumbed to High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE), a condition occurring at high altitudes in which the lungs […] Brains Clay Malott | February 1, 2020 0 Comments