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New research on heart failure in microgravity

New research on heart failure in microgravity


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The microgravity environment of space can adversely affect a person’s health by causing bone density loss, muscle atrophy, and cardiovascular deconditioning due to the lack of gravity’s normal stressors on the body.

As commercial space travel becomes more accessible, the profile of space travelers is diversifying to include older individuals and those with chronic health conditions. This shift necessitates a deeper understanding of how microgravity affects people with ailments such as heart failure. Dr. Lex van Loon, an assistant professor at the Australian National University and the University of Twente, aims to address these challenges, paving the way for safer space missions for all.

The need for heart failure studies in space

Exploring heart failure in space unveils crucial insights into the evolving landscape of commercial space travel. With an increasing number of older and affluent individuals venturing beyond Earth’s bounds, many lacking the rigorous health assessments and physical preparations typical of professional astronauts, the need for comprehensive health considerations in space missions intensifies. Among these concerns, heart failure, affecting over 100 million globally, emerges as a pivotal area demanding attention.

Understanding how microgravity uniquely impacts individuals with cardiovascular issues becomes imperative, given the potential ramifications for their health and the success of space missions.

Further, the heterogeneity of heart failure, characterised by distinct types with varied physiological mechanisms, underscores the complexity of studying its implications in space. Whether it’s a weakened heart’s inability to pump blood effectively or the challenge of the heart’s relaxation and filling processes, each type presents its own set of challenges. To address these nuances, separate investigations are essential to tailor countermeasures effectively for the microgravity environment.

Using computational models to simulate space conditions

In the microgravity environment of space, the body undergoes significant changes, notably fluid redistribution leading to ‘puffy face bird leg’ syndrome. While healthy individuals adapt, heart failure patients face heightened risks due to increased venous pressure, the pressure exerted on the walls of the veins as blood is pumped back to the heart. To understand these impacts, van Loon and his team employed computational modelling, tuning parameters to predict how heart failure patients might fare in space accurately.

Their simulations revealed a universal increase in cardiac output upon entering microgravity. However, for heart failure patients, this comes with elevated left atrial pressure, potentially causing pulmonary edema, a condition characterised by fluid accumulation in the lungs. This underscores the necessity for tailored medical plans and comprehensive health screenings for space tourists, particularly those with underlying health conditions like heart failure.

Looking ahead, the development of human digital twins emerges as a promising avenue for enhancing space travel safety. These virtual replicas can simulate how an individual’s specific health conditions would respond to space stresses (like microgravity), offering personalised risk assessments and interventions.

As humanity ventures further into space, leveraging technologies like human digital twins will be instrumental in safeguarding the well-being of all space travellers, especially those with heart conditions.

News reference:

van Loon, L. M. “Heart failure in space: scientists calculate potential health threats facing future space tourists in microgravity” https://www.frontiersin.org/news/2024/06/21/heart-failure-space-tourist-astronauts-vanloon?ref=athenil.com

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