Journal of Applied Physiology, Vol 80, Issue 3 910-914, Copyright © 1996 by American Physiological Society

ARTICLES

Microgravity decreases heart rate and arterial pressure in humans

J. M. Fritsch-Yelle, J. B. Charles, M. M. Jones and M. L. Wood
Space Biomedical Research Institute, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas 77058, USA.

Spaceflight causes adaptive changes in cardiovascular physiology, such as postflight orthostatic intolerance, that can have deleterious effects on astronauts. In-flight cardiovascular data are difficult to obtain, and results have been inconsistent. To determine normative in-flight changes in Shuttle astronauts, we measured heart rate, arterial pressure, and cardiac rhythm disturbances for 24-h periods before, during, and after spaceflight on Shuttle astronauts performing their normal routines. We found that heart rate, diastolic pressure, variability of heart rate and diastolic pressure, and premature ventricular contractions all were significantly reduced in flight. Systolic pressure and premature atrial contractions also tended to be reduced in flight. These data constitute the first systematic evaluation of in-flight changes in basic cardiovascular variables in Shuttle astronauts and suggest that a microgravity environment itself does not present a chronic stress to the cardiovascular system.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				T. A. Dorfman, B. D. Levine, T. Tillery, R. M. Peshock, J. L. Hastings, S. M. Schneider, B. R. Macias, G. Biolo, and A. R. Hargens Cardiac atrophy in women following bed rest J Appl Physiol, July 1, 2007; 103(1): 8 - 16. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. M. Baevsky, V. M. Baranov, I. I. Funtova, A. Diedrich, A. V. Pashenko, A. G. Chernikova, J. Drescher, J. Jordan, and J. Tank Autonomic cardiovascular and respiratory control during prolonged spaceflights aboard the International Space Station J Appl Physiol, July 1, 2007; 103(1): 156 - 161. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. L. Nichols, N. Zhang, and X. Wen Proteomics and genomics of microgravity Physiol Genomics, September 14, 2006; 26(3): 163 - 171. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Norsk, M. Damgaard, L. Petersen, M. Gybel, B. Pump, A. Gabrielsen, and N. J. Christensen Vasorelaxation in Space Hypertension, January 1, 2006; 47(1): 69 - 73. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Powers and D. Bernstein The mouse as a model of cardiovascular adaptations to microgravity J Appl Physiol, November 1, 2004; 97(5): 1686 - 1692. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P-F. Migeotte, G. K. Prisk, and M. Paiva Microgravity alters respiratory sinus arrhythmia and short-term heart rate variability in humans Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, June 1, 2003; 284(6): H1995 - H2006. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Waki, T. Shimizu, K. Katahira, T. Nagayama, M. Yamasaki, and S.-I. Katsuda Effects of microgravity elicited by parabolic flight on abdominal aortic pressure and heart rate in rats J Appl Physiol, December 1, 2002; 93(6): 1893 - 1899. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. Pump, U. Talleruphuus, N. J. Christensen, J. Warberg, and P. Norsk Effects of supine, prone, and lateral positions on cardiovascular and renal variables in humans Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, July 1, 2002; 283(1): R174 - R180. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. K. Wilkerson, P. N. Colleran, and M. D. Delp Acute and chronic head-down tail suspension diminishes cerebral perfusion in rats Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, January 1, 2002; 282(1): H328 - H334. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				ANN. R. ELLIOTT, S. A. SHEA, D.-J. DIJK, J. K. WYATT, E. RIEL, D. F. NERI, C. A. CZEISLER, J. B. WEST, and G. K. PRISK Microgravity Reduces Sleep-disordered Breathing in Humans Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., August 1, 2001; 164(3): 478 - 485. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. D. Ramsdell, T. J. Mullen, G. H. Sundby, S. Rostoft, N. Sheynberg, N. Aljuri, M. Maa, R. Mukkamala, D. Sherman, K. Toska, et al. Midodrine prevents orthostatic intolerance associated with simulated spaceflight J Appl Physiol, June 1, 2001; 90(6): 2245 - 2248. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. A. Perhonen, J. H. Zuckerman, and B. D. Levine Deterioration of Left Ventricular Chamber Performance After Bed Rest : "Cardiovascular Deconditioning" or Hypovolemia? Circulation, April 10, 2001; 103(14): 1851 - 1857. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. E. Watenpaugh, J. C. Buckey, L. D. Lane, F. A. Gaffney, B. D. Levine, W. E. Moore, S. J. Wright, and C. G. Blomqvist Effects of spaceflight on human calf hemodynamics J Appl Physiol, April 1, 2001; 90(4): 1552 - 1558. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				W. H. Cooke, J. E. Ames IV, A. A. Crossman, J. F. Cox, T. A. Kuusela, K. U. O. Tahvanainen, L. B. Moon, J. Drescher, F. J. Baisch, T. Mano, et al. Nine months in space: effects on human autonomic cardiovascular regulation J Appl Physiol, September 1, 2000; 89(3): 1039 - 1045. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. K. Prisk, A. R. Elliott, and J. B. West Sustained microgravity reduces the human ventilatory response to hypoxia but not to hypercapnia J Appl Physiol, April 1, 2000; 88(4): 1421 - 1430. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. C. Koenig, V. A. Convertino, J. W. Fanton, C. A. Reister, F. A. Gaffney, D. A. Ludwig, V. P. Krotov, E. V. Trambovetsky, and R. D. Latham Evidence for increased cardiac compliance during exposure to simulated microgravity Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, October 1, 1998; 275(4): R1343 - R1352. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. K. Shoemaker, C. S. Hogeman, D. H. Silber, K. Gray, M. Herr, and L. I. Sinoway Head-down-tilt bed rest alters forearm vasodilator and vasoconstrictor responses J Appl Physiol, May 1, 1998; 84(5): 1756 - 1762. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. K. Shoemaker, C. S. Hogeman, U. A. Leuenberger, M. D. Herr, K. Gray, D. H. Silber, and L. I. Sinoway Sympathetic discharge and vascular resistance after bed rest J Appl Physiol, February 1, 1998; 84(2): 612 - 617. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]