Space blood pressure study could explain vision symptoms

New research has found long duration weightlessness in space induces a blood shift leading to larger central volume expansion and lower blood pressure than expected.

A study was published in The Journal of Physiology this week finding a greater shift than previously thought.

Researchers measured the volume of blood ejected by the heart into the blood vessels and monitored the blood pressure of eight astronauts aged between 45-53 years during a 24 hour period with portable equipment.

Dr Peter Norsk, lead author of the study, said: ‘We know that some astronauts experience vision problems some months into spaceflight and this may in fact be caused by the augmented fluid and blood volume shift to the upper body.’