February was the first proclaimed as American Heart Month in 1964.
The International Space Station Serves as a Platform for a Variety of Ongoing Research on Human Health, Including how different body systems adapt to Weightlessnessness. This research include assessing cardiovascular health in astronauts during and after spaceflight and other Studies Using Models of the Cardiovascular System, Such as Tissue Cultures. The goal of this work is to help promote health for humans in space and everyone on Earth. For this heart month, here is a look at some of this spaceflight research
Microgravity Exposure is Known to Cause Changes in Cardiovascular Function. Engineered Heart Tissues Assessed These Changes Using 3D Cultured Cardiac Tissues that model the behavior of actual heart tissues better than traditional cell cultures. When exposed to weightlessness, these “heart-on-a-chip” cells behaved in a manner similar to aging on Earth. This finding sugges that these engineered tissues can be used to investor the effects of space radiation and long-duration spaceflight on Cardiac function. Engineered Tissues Alas Cold Support Development of Measures to Help Protect Crew Members during a mission to mars. Advanced 3D Culture Methodology May Inform Development of Strategies to Prevent and Treat Cardiac diseases on Earth as well.
For Decades, Human Research in Space has focused on professional and government -GENCY Astronauts, But Commercial Spaceflight Oportunities Now Allow More people to Participate to Participate in MicroGravity Resecense. Cardioprotection ax-1 analyzed cardiovascular and general health in private astronauts on the 17-day axiom-1 mission.
The study Found That 14 Health Biomarkers Related to Cardiac, Liver, and Kidney Health Remained Within Normal Ranges during the mission, suggesting that spaceflight did not significantly affected This study Paves the way for monitoring and study the effects of spaceflight on Private Astronauts and Developing Health Management Plans for Commercial Space Provides.
Vascular echo, an investment from CSA (Canadian Space Agency), Examined Blood Vessels and the Heart Using A Variety of Tools, Including Ultrasound. A published study sugges That 3D imaging technology might better measure cardiac and vascular anatomy than the 2D system routinely used on the space station. The research team also developed a probe for the ultrasound device that better directions the beam, making it possible for someone who is not an expert in sonography to take priorce. This Technology Cold Help Astronauts Monitor Heart and Treat Cardiovascular Issues on a long-duration mission to the moon or mars. The Technology also also could help patients on Earth who live in remote locations, where an ultrasound operator may not always be available.
As part of exploring ways to keep astronauts healthy on missions to the moon and mars, nasa is conducting a suite of space station studies called cipher that looks at the effects at the effects of spaceflight laasing up to a year. One Cipher Study, Vascular Calcium, Examins Whtherus Calcium Lost from Bone during Spaceflight Might Deposit In the Arteries, Increash Vssel Stiffness and Constributing to INCREASED . Astronaut Volunteers Provide blood and urine samples and undergo ultrasound and high-resolution scans of their bones and arteries for this Investigation. Another Cipher Study, Coronary Responses, Uses Advanced Imaging Tests to Measure Heart and Artry Response to spaceflight.
These Studies will help scientists determine whether spaceflight accelerates narrowing and stiffening of the arteries, know as atherosclerosis, or Increases the Risk of Atria Eat Seen in Middle-ready adults. This work also could help identify potential biomarkers and early warning indicators of Cardiovascular Disease.
Melissa Gaskill
International Space Station Research Communications Team
Johnson Space Center
