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Orthostatic intolerance and motion sickness after parabolic flightBecause it is not clear that the induction of orthostatic intolerance in returning astronauts always requires prolonged exposure to microgravity, we investigated orthostatic tolerance and autonomic cardiovascular function in 16 healthy subjects before and after the brief micro- and hypergravity of parabolic flight. Concomitantly, we investigated the effect of parabolic flight-induced vomiting on orthostatic tolerance, R-wave-R-wave interval and arterial pressure power spectra, and carotid-cardiac baroreflex and Valsalva responses. After parabolic flight 1) 8 of 16 subjects could not tolerate 30 min of upright tilt (compared to 2 of 16 before flight); 2) 6 of 16 subjects vomited; 3) new intolerance to upright tilt was associated with exaggerated falls in total peripheral resistance, whereas vomiting was associated with increased R-wave-R-wave interval variability and carotid-cardiac baroreflex responsiveness; and 4) the proximate mode of new orthostatic failure differed in subjects who did and did not vomit, with vomiters experiencing comparatively isolated upright hypocapnia and cerebral vasoconstriction and nonvomiters experiencing signs and symptoms reminiscent of the clinical postural tachycardia syndrome. Results suggest, first, that syndromes of orthostatic intolerance resembling those developing after space flight can develop after a brief (i.e., 2-h) parabolic flight and, second, that recent vomiting can influence the results of tests of autonomic cardiovascular function commonly utilized in returning astronauts.
Document ID
20040112643
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Schlegel, T. T.
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston TX United States)
Brown, T. E.
Wood, S. J.
Benavides, E. W.
Bondar, R. L.
Stein, F.
Moradshahi, P.
Harm, D. L.
Fritsch-Yelle, J. M.
Low, P. A.
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2001
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985)
Volume: 90
Issue: 1
ISSN: 8750-7587
Subject Category
Aerospace Medicine
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
NASA Center JSC
Flight Experiment
manned
short duration
Parabolic Flight
NASA Discipline Neuroscience

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