Health

02 - 08 - 2016

Astronauts have a greater chance of dying heart diseases

A study by Florida State University was based on the following observation: out of the 24 Apollo astronauts, 43% died as a result of heart disease, while the rate is only 9% in astronauts that have never left earth and 11% of those who stayed low terrestrial orbit.

To understand this, mice were placed in weightless conditions and exposed to radiation, equivalent to the conditions in space. A prolonged dysfunction of the cells lining the arteries was observed. This anomaly can induce arterial occlusive disease.