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Altitude above 2500 meters above the sea level is a potential zone of development of all three forms of high altitude disease: acute mountain sickness, high altitude pulmonary edema and high altitude cerebral edema. Hypoxia, together with hypocapnia, altered ventilatory response, exertion and extreme cold are the precipitating factors for the development of all three forms of high altitude illness in susceptible individuals. Prompt descent of at least 400m is necessary and always results in improvement of the symptoms. The preventative role of drugs and appropriate acclimatization to altitude is necessary to prevent both high altitude pulmonary edema and cerebral edema, while the use of a hyperbaric chamber should be considered only to help patients through the critical period until descent. High altitude ski resorts and a high prevalence of this disease warrant its good understanding and prevention.