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Review
. 2024 Nov 3;25(21):11812.
doi: 10.3390/ijms252111812.

Space Travel: The Radiation and Microgravity Effects on the Cardiovascular System

Andrei Alexandru Mircea  1   2 , Dan Valentin Pistritu  1   2 , Andra Fortner  3 , Antoanela Tanca  1   2 , Elisa Anamaria Liehn  1   2   4 , Octavian Bucur  5   6
Affiliations
Review

Space Travel: The Radiation and Microgravity Effects on the Cardiovascular System

Andrei Alexandru Mircea et al. Int J Mol Sci. .

Abstract

Space flight modulates the functions of the cardiovascular system. The exposure to space conditions can alter the cerebral blood flow, as well as the venous return. Anemia, cardiac output changes, and increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system can also be seen. Understanding cardiac changes prepares astronauts for both better in-flight adaptations and long-term protection against cardiovascular diseases. The heart could undergo radio-degenerative effects when exposed to space radiation, increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases in the long run. A high frequency of arrhythmias, such as ventricular/atrial premature complexes, have been reported during the Gemini and Apollo missions. Additionally, microgravity can lead to progressive degeneration of the myocytes and muscle atrophy with altered gene expression and calcium handling, along with impaired contractility. This review summarizes the potential cardiovascular effects of spaceflight and prevention measures.

Keywords: endothelial dysfunction; high atomic number and energy (HZE) particles; microgravity; radiation.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflicts.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Effects of radiation and microgravity [20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28].
Figure 2
Figure 2
Prevention strategies for mitigating cardiovascular impacts of microgravity and space radiation exposure in astronauts [56,57,61,62,63,72,85,86,87,88,89,90,91,92]. The arrow pointing down indicates a decrease (e.g. decrease in cardiac atrophy).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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