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Cardiovascular adaptation to spaceflight

A R Hargens1, D E Watenpaugh

  • 1Life Science Division (239-11), NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000, USA.

Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
|August 1, 1996
PubMed
Summary
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Astronauts experience cardiovascular changes in space, including fluid shifts and reduced exercise capacity. Countermeasures should focus on restoring Earth-like blood pressure in the lower body for long-duration spaceflight.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Physiology
  • Space Medicine
  • Human Adaptation to Microgravity

Background:

  • Spaceflight induces significant cardiovascular adaptations.
  • Microgravity exposure causes headward fluid shifts, plasma volume loss, and orthostatic intolerance.
  • Short-term responses to microgravity persist and may be linked to altered tissue pressures and fluid balance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review cardiovascular adaptations to spaceflight.
  • To explain physiological changes observed during space missions.
  • To propose countermeasures for long-duration spaceflight.

Main Methods:

  • Review of flight and ground-based studies.
  • Analysis of cardiovascular responses to microgravity.
  • Examination of tissue pressure and fluid balance alterations.
Keywords:
NASA Center ARCNASA Discipline Cardiopulmonary

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Main Results:

  • Microgravity leads to loss of gravitational pressures and headward fluid shifts.
  • Plasma volume decreases, resulting in orthostatic intolerance and reduced exercise capacity postflight.
  • Lower body tissues are adapted to hypertension, while upper body tissues are not.

Conclusions:

  • Cardiovascular changes in spaceflight are influenced by altered pressure and fluid dynamics.
  • Long-duration spaceflight requires countermeasures to reestablish Earth-like lower body blood pressure.
  • Restoring lower body blood pressure is crucial for astronaut health during extended missions.