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I'm not clear on how tight leg cuffs would counteract the fluid shift towards the head. Wouldn't they exacerbate the problem? I wish the article went into a bit more details.
In my opinion, the obvious long-term solution is to build a space station with a rotating module to provide artificial gravity for the astronauts to spend time in when they aren't doing zero-g research.
I think that when you exert some pressure on blood vessels, the blood has to have higher pressure to pass through. While arteries work at higher pressure, veins have a lower pressure. So in the arteries deliver blood regardless, while veins accumulate more than usual until they are pressurized enough to let excess blood through the cuffs, accumulating blood in the legs. All of this is purely my speculation, though.
But wouldn’t the astronauts go mad from hearing The Blue Danube on repeat?
If that is the biggest risk, sign me up. I love that piece, and have listened to it on repeat for many hours with no ill effects :)
I don't fully understand what the science is behind this issue but I do know that your eyes are easily affected by your blood and blood pressure.
I used to have regular drops in blood pressure and actually was hospitalized because it was 60/30 once when they checked. I actually lost vision in one eye because blood flow was decreased to the eye long enough the optic nerve died. They speculated it was a significant BP drop that caused it.
I cringe whenever I see video streams of the astronauts on the ISS and see the veins on their heads bulging like they’re straining hard. Do they actually feel it the way we do here on earth or do they just feel normal and it’s just a visual thing.
Do they actually feel it the way we do here on earth or do they just feel normal
Obligatory "I am not an astronaut", but I've heard that it is common to feel kind of congested or "stuffed up" in the head on long duration missions.
The cuffs also could treat conditions on Earth that cause fluid to build up in the head or upper body, such as long-term bed rest and certain diseases.
That's me! I want these cuffs!