Cardiovascular deconditioning in microgravity: some possible countermeasures

Microgravity is an extreme environment inducing relevant adaptive changes in the human body, especially after prolonged periods of exposure. Since the early sixties, numerous studies on the effects of microgravity, during manned Space flights, have produced an increasing amount of information concerning its physiological effects, globally defined 'deconditioning'. Microgravity deconditioning of the cardiovascular system (CVD) is briefly reviewed. It consists of: (1) a decrease of circulating blood and interstitial fluid volumes, (2) a decrease of arterial blood diastolic pressure, (3) a decrease of ventricular stroke volume, (4) a decrease of the estimated left ventricular mass and (5) resetting of the carotid baroreceptors. The negative effects of microgravity deconditioning manifest themselves mostly upon the reentry to Earth. They consist mainly of: (1) dizziness, (2) increased heart rate and heart palpitations, (3) an inability to assume the standing position (orthostatic intolerance), (4) pre-syncopal feelings due to postural stress and (5) reduced exercise capacity. To avoid these drawbacks several countermeasures have been proposed; they will be briefly mentioned with emphasis on the 'Twin Bikes System' (TBS). This consists of two coupled bicycles operated by astronauts and counter-rotating along the inner wall of a cylindrical Space module, thus generating a centrifugal force vector, mimicking gravity.