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The researchers examined the daily activities of astronauts from the space in order to develop a treatment of orthostatic intolerance. The condition often causes fainting due to low blood pressure. ( Robin Higgins | pixabay )
A new study presenting astronaut activities in the space helps to better understand the causes of even low blood pressure.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have examined a condition called orthostatic intolerance to understand how it affects people and how it can be prevented. They think they may have found the solution in the daily activities of astronauts after their return from a space flight.
What is orthostatic intolerance?
According to the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, orthostatic intolerance is a condition in which some people have difficulty standing in a standing position, for example.
People with OI often feel faint, but they may also experience weakness, dizziness, palpitations or abnormal sweating, as well as nausea. Some also have concentration problems during an OI episode.
In most cases, the OI occurs when people go from lying down to standing. This movement causes blood throughout the body to be dragged to the legs and pelvis due to gravity. The blood stream activates the pressure receptors located in the neck and chest, which in turn signals the brain to let it know that the blood has "moved south."
Normally, the body reacts to this by activating the "fight or flight" instinct of the nervous system. The nerves then release a nerve transmitter called norepinephrine, which causes the blood vessels to tighten in the legs, abdomen and pelvis, thus forcing the blood to act against gravity and return to the heart.
This complete sequence often occurs in less than a second to maintain stable blood circulation and body blood pressure. This helps to ensure that the brain continues to receive a good blood supply, even when people go from lying to standing.
How to prevent orthostatic intolerance
For their study, researchers at UT Southwestern have examined how astronauts handle the rigors of spaceflight. They noted that some crew members could not help fainting during their return trip to Earth.
The team monitored the health of eight men and four female astronauts while on duty in space. Each participant received a small blood pressure cuff placed on their finger. The device has tracked the astronaut's blood pressure and heart rate for several 24-hour periods before, during, and after their space flight.
Upon their return from space, the astronauts received a program of exercises as well as saline injections to help them cope with the effects of orthostatic intolerance. The researchers discovered that the combination prevented the onset of the disease.
"Doing an hour or more of daily exercise was enough to prevent heart muscle loss, and when it was badociated with hydration on their return, the disease was totally avoided," said Dr. Benjamin Levine, professor of internal medicine at UT. Southwest and principal investigator of the study.
"We expected to evaporate up to two-thirds of the space team.Now, no one fainted."
Researchers are exploring ways to use treatment to treat other similar problems. One of these diseases is Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, or POTS, which often causes debilitating vertigo in women.
The results of the UT Southwestern study are presented in the newspaper circulation.
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