ILL effects of space exposure

Being an astronaut is one of the most reputable and distinguished jobs today, and as much as it is rewarding, it is equally perilous and fraught with danger. In this article, I will be sharing with you guys the various effects of long-term spaceflight on human beings.


As starters, let us deal with microgravity first. On Earth, the cardiovascular system continuously pumps blood throughout the body against the force of gravity, thus strengthening the muscles, cells and bones. In space, our heart has no gravity to work against, and as a consequence, all our body fluids tend to pool around the chest and head more, which results in astronauts experiencing severe headaches, nasal congestion and skinny legs. Also since, in microgravity, astronauts float around everywhere and have nothing to walk or lift against, the muscle-strength is severely undermined, and leads to a loss of balance, posture and strength, as well as an increased risk of developing tendonitis.


             The bones in the lower part of our body, which are normally accustomed to supporting the entire weight of our upper halves down here on Earth, experience a significant decrease in load bearing, which leave the bones incapacitated. It also triggers a release of calcium, which is reabsorbed by the body. But this release of calcium increases the risk of kidney-stone formation and fractures. Also, there is a subtle discretion of the vertebrae on account of weightlessness, which leaves the astronauts with really bad backaches.

                  Motion sickness, probably one of those unavoidable problems experienced by every astronaut out there, is caused partly by the change in blood-flow distribution throughout the body, and a loss of the sense of direction. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, headaches, malaise and dizziness. The effects of motion sickness usually dampen out as an astronaut learns to rely on visual cues for his balance and orientation, but even visual cues can be confusing.


                Long-term spaceflights also have deep psychological impacts on astronauts. The liberty of an astronaut is, to a great extent, restricted, clearly because of the confined quarters of the space-shuttle. Also, long-term isolation, monotony, and the presence of other astronauts in close proximity could lead to depression, interpersonal conflicts, anxiety, or insomnia. 


                          As I mentioned in my article "The Problems of Space Exploration," radiation is a ubiquitous and omnipresent threat in space which just cannot be avoided. Radiation adversely affects the cellular structure of humans and leads to a compromised immune system, mutations and a higher risk of developing cataracts, heart-disease and cancer.


                  A number of solutions are being devised to counteract some of these ill-effects. The presence of artificial gravity would remove most of these problems, but some, like radiation, need more sophisticated devices for an astronaut's salvation. 

Shreyash Dahale