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Cardiovascular adaptation to spaceflightThis article reviews recent flight and ground-based studies of cardiovascular adaptation to spaceflight. Prominent features of microgravity exposure include loss of gravitational pressures, relatively low venous pressures, headward fluid shifts, plasma volume loss, and postflight orthostatic intolerance and reduced exercise capacity. Many of these short-term responses to microgravity extend themselves during long-duration microgravity exposure and may be explained by altered pressures (blood and tissue) and fluid balance in local tissues nourished by the cardiovascular system. In this regard, it is particularly noteworthy that tissues of the lower body (e.g., foot) are well adapted to local hypertension on Earth, whereas tissues of the upper body (e.g., head) are not as well adapted to increase in local blood pressure. For these and other reasons, countermeasures for long-duration flight should include reestablishment of higher, Earth-like blood pressures in the lower body.
Document ID
20040173169
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Hargens, A. R.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Watenpaugh, D. E.
Date Acquired
August 22, 2013
Publication Date
August 1, 1996
Publication Information
Publication: Medicine and science in sports and exercise
Volume: 28
Issue: 8
ISSN: 0195-9131
Subject Category
Life Sciences (General)
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
Review, Tutorial
Review
STS-40 Shuttle Project
NASA Discipline Cardiopulmonary
STS-58 Shuttle Project
Flight Experiment
manned
short duration
NASA Center ARC

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