From Classical Greece to the End of the Seventeenth Century

Abstract

There is some uncertainty about who has the distinction of being the first to document the deleterious effects of high altitude on travelers to high mountains. In some ways it is surprising that there are not more references in classical Greek and Roman literature. When people who live near sea level go to altitudes of about 3000 m (about 10,000 ft) or more, many develop symptoms of acute mountain sickness. These symptoms include headache, fatigue, light-headedness, loss of appetite, insomnia, and sometimes, dizziness, palpitations, and nausea in addition. The ancient Greeks were such astute observers, and the Romans had such a far-flung empire, that one might expect to read more about the physiological effects of high altitude in their extensive literature.