For astronauts who have been on the International Space Station for several months, the risks in their minds may not be as worrying as they once feared.
A new study tracked 13 NASA astronauts for up to five years after a long-term space mission and found no signs of accelerated vascular aging or emerging heart disease. The study was held on July 10 Journal of Applied Physiologywhich suggests that arteries remain structurally and functionally normal even after extended microgravity exposure, which helps alleviate concerns about long-term cardiovascular health for space travelers.
No thickening, no stiffness, no danger
The researchers used ultrasound to measure the astronaut’s carotid and brachial arteries before flight, shortly after landing, and within a regular time of five years. They found:
- Carotid wall thickness or stiffness does not increase – Premarks for heart disease
- Stable brachial artery vasodilation, signs of healthy blood vessels
- After transient inflammation and oxidative stress, this resolved within a week
- Over time, there is only a mild increase in cholesterol and blood sugar, consistent with normal aging
“In ISS astronauts, most indicators of arterial structure and function are not different from those of the pre-flight,” the authors wrote. “There is no sign, symptoms or diagnosis of cardiovascular disease for the first time. [five years] After returning to Earth. ”
Predicting risks: Aging, not space flight, key factors
To estimate the future cardiovascular risk of astronauts, the researchers used two tools: the American Cardiology/American Heart Association calculator, and a NASA-specific model called Astro-Charm. Both show a modest increase in 10-year risk, but this is largely attributed to aging rather than the effects of space flight.
For example, using the ACC/AHA tool, the average predicted risk rose from 2.6% before flight to 4.6% five years later. However, when researchers inserted only the age difference (making all other health markers continually), the risk still increased by an average of 1.3%.
What about the deep space mission?
The research focuses on astronauts living and working in low-Earth orbit, where the Earth’s magnetic field protects cosmic radiation. The authors warn that Earth orbits outside future missions, such as those planned for the Moon and Mars, may present greater cardiovascular risks due to higher radiation exposure and microgravity duration.
Still, the study is a reassuring sign: In the years after a long-term space flight, astronauts’ arteries are the same age as those of healthy and active adults on Earth. “Astronauts seem to be resilient to the pressure on space flight,” the researchers concluded. As the mission becomes more ambitious, calling for continued long-term health surveillance.
The impact of the real world on space and the earth
These findings may also have chain reactions outside the astronaut corps. Space flight is an extreme test bed for human physiology, and space insights can help us better understand aging, cardiovascular disease and resilience on Earth. With more commercial astronauts and private space tourists entering orbit, mastering long-term heart health is more important than ever.
Magazine: Journal of Applied Physiology
doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00264.2024
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