Protracted presence in space weakens the immune system – The Jewish Times

The body astronauts spent much time on the implementation of the mission loses its ability to resist disease, researchers found. How does the state of weightlessness on health человека?

In particular, the excessive human presence in space had become worse job of immunity.

American scientists from the space center named Dzhostona conducted a unique study, as a result of which turned out to establish the fact that the presence of man in space does his body great harm.

Long-term missions may threaten the health and lives of the astronauts of the ISS, said Honey. workers.

On the eve of a group of professionals from Houston took the research a blood sample 23 astronauts that remained on the space station for six months . Arrived at the space station astronauts have to spend three times in self-examination, taking blood and tissue samples for analysis with subsequent freezing to send to Earth. As a result, the strength of the immune response to the end of the expedition has been reduced. The authors suggested that the reduction of immune system cells in the blood of astronauts may be associated with stress because of the take-off and landing or weightlessness. All past medical research, explains Krushian, conducted among the astronauts who participated only in the short space flight. This can be used not only “external enemies” – bacteria, viruses and fungi, however, and “internal” such as the herpes virus or autoimmune diseases.

It is worth noting that in recent years, doctors quite actively study the consequences that may arise due to a long stay man in weightlessness. The experts were able to identify a number of threats, which in some way may affect the health of possible Martian colonists and explorers of outer space. In particular, the doctors found that in zero gravity very quickly begins to age the bone marrow, as well as disruptive to the reading of a number of genes. In fact, here we are talking about the suppression of the immune cells, thereby reducing the strength of the immune response, which in turn reduces The security of the body from various infectious diseases.

The doctors could not with 100% certainty what was related weakening of the immune system – with the stress generated by the takeoff and landing, or with weightlessness. Now scientists can with certainty say that the absence of gravity significantly affect the operation of our immune system, making the human body more vulnerable. This can benefit not only the “external enemies” – bacteria, viruses and fungi, but also “internal” such as the herpes virus or an autoimmune disease.

The reasons for the weakening of immunity astronauts, scientists have not been able to establish. The authors suggested that the reduction of immune system cells in the blood of astronauts may be associated with stress because of the takeoff and landing, or with weightlessness.