Scientists have identified a danger in space travel for tourists with heart failure. The results of the study were published in the journal Frontiers in Physiology.
Experts resorted to computer modeling to identify physiological changes in microgravity conditions. To do this, they used a separate mathematical model that includes 21 compartments of the cardiovascular system, including four chambers of the heart, five compartments in the chest, two compartments in the upper body and eight compartments in the lower body. Each compartment is characterized by resistance to blood inflow/outflow, elasticity and volume under stress-free conditions.
Microgravity was found to increase cardiac output in all humans - the volume of blood ejected from the ventricles of the heart in one minute. However, in patients with heart failure, this increase in cardiac output is accompanied by a dangerous increase in pressure in the left atrium, which can lead to pulmonary edema, a condition in which fluid builds up in the lungs, making breathing difficult.
The results highlight the need for comprehensive health screenings and individualized plans for space travelers with chronic illnesses. It is important to consider the long-term effects of space travel on the cardiovascular system and to investigate the cumulative impact of various diseases.
Phys.org notes that one promising avenue for future research and safety in space travel is the development of human digital twins. The human digital twin is an extremely detailed virtual model of human physiological systems. By creating these digital replicas, researchers can simulate different scenarios and predict how different conditions, such as microgravity, might affect human health.