Wilderness First Responder Practice Test 2025 – Complete Exam Prep

Ataxia, which is a lack of muscle control or coordination of voluntary movements, is commonly associated with High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE). This condition occurs when the brain swells due to the low oxygen levels at high altitudes and leads to neurological symptoms, including confusion, severe headaches, and ataxia.

HACE typically arises in individuals who ascend to high altitudes rapidly without proper acclimatization, and ataxia is a significant sign that indicates a more severe form of altitude sickness threatening the central nervous system. Immediate descent and medical treatment are critical because HACE can be life-threatening.

The other conditions listed do not primarily include ataxia as a characteristic symptom. Altitude sickness refers more broadly to various symptoms caused by high altitude, but does not focus specifically on ataxia. High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) involves fluid accumulation in the lungs, leading to respiratory distress, and acclimatization syndrome typically describes the process of the body adjusting to high altitudes, which does not include the specific neurological deficits indicated by ataxia.