Infectious Disease risks associated with exposure to stressful environmentsMultiple environmental factors asociated with space flight can increase the risk of infectious illness among crewmembers thereby adversely affecting crew health and mission success. Host defences can be impaired by multiple physiological and psychological stressors including: sleep deprivation, disrupted circadian rhythms, separation from family, perceived danger, radiation exposure, and possibly also by the direct and indirect effects of microgravity. Relevant human immunological data from isolated or stressful environments including spaceflight will be reviewed. Long-duration missions should include reliable hardware which supports sophisticated immunodiagnostic capabilities. Future advances in immunology and molecular biology will continue to provide therapeutic agents and biologic response modifiers which should effectively and selectively restore immune function which has been depressed by exposure to environmental stressors.
Document ID
19950058781
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Meehan, Ichard T. (University of Colorado Health Sciences Center United States)
Smith, Morey (University of Colorado Health Sciences Center United States)
Sams, Clarence (NASA Johnson Space Center United States)
Date Acquired
August 16, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1993
Publication Information
ISSN: 0148-7191
Subject Category
Aerospace Medicine
Report/Patent Number
SAE PAPER 932140
Meeting Information
Meeting: International Conference on Environmental Systems