Polish astronaut's doctor: effects of space travel visible in blood tests

Blood tests of astronauts show similar indicators to those of people staying for long periods at polar stations and in submarines, Alessandro Alcibiade, a doctor on the IGNIS mission who is taking care of the health of Polish astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, told PAP.

On July 15, after 18 days on the International Space Station (ISS), the Ax-4 crew returned to Earth: Peggy Whitson (USA), Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland, Tibor Kapu of Hungary, and Shubhanshu Shukla of India. The Polish astronaut flew into space as part of the first Polish technological and scientific mission, IGNIS.

During short missions like IGNIS, the consequences of microgravity exposure are minimal for well-prepared and healthy individuals. Astronauts who remain in orbit for longer periods inevitably face muscle atrophy and bone loss. This means they are often unable to walk independently upon return to Earth, requiring long and intensive rehabilitation, said Alessandro Alcibiade from the European Space Agency (ESA), the flight surgeon for the IGNIS mission. He prepared Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski for the flight to the International Space Station (ISS), monitored his health in orbit, and was one of the first people present with him upon his return to Earth. Alcibiade is now responsible for the Pole's rehabilitation at ESA's European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany.

Alcibiade stated that the changes in the human body that occur under the influence of space conditions are clearly visible to doctors and scientists. "And some are noticeable to everyone. Astronauts, especially at the beginning of a mission, have fuller, redder faces. This is a result of the flow of body fluids from the lower body in microgravity. Typically, the swelling, along with the accompanying dizziness and disorientation, subsides after a few days," the expert explained.

The effects of microgravity on the body are also visible in blood test results. "There is no specific marker that would indicate spaceflight. However, astronauts typically have deficiencies in certain vitamins, such as B12 or D. This is related to limited access to fresh food and direct sunlight. Therefore, appropriate supplementation is used," noted Alessandro Alcibiade.

He added that similar research results were obtained by people who spent long periods of time, for example, at polar stations or in submarines.

In space, ionizing cosmic radiation is dangerous to living creatures. Its long-term exposure can cause bone marrow changes, tissue damage, and DNA damage. According to the doctor, astronauts are constantly monitored for radiation exposure, and the permissible dose is established by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP).

To provide astronauts with additional protection, ground crews monitor space weather, phenomena related to solar activity. Large solar flares and coronal mass ejections generate a powerful solar wind (a stream of plasma composed of charged particles). When the plasma ejected from the Sun is about to reach Earth's orbit, astronauts move to a section of the ISS that is particularly protected from radiation.

As the PAP source told the publication, according to NASA's definition, a long-duration mission begins after 30 days in space. Currently, long-duration missions to the ISS last an average of six months. However, NASA can extend this period to eight months, as the new Dragon capsule has been certified to remain in the station's dock for that period.

According to the doctor, longer missions mean significant savings, as capsules will be traveling to the ISS less frequently, and each transport to orbit is very expensive. "Furthermore, multi-month missions will allow for better study of the effects of microgravity and radiation on the human body. This is particularly important in planning further space travel – to the Moon and later to Mars," he emphasized.

When asked if astronauts are difficult patients, he replied: "I've dealt with several and I haven't met one yet that wasn't interesting from a scientific and personal point of view."

He added: "My job isn't like working in a clinic or hospital, but more like working as military doctors treating fighter pilots. My patients are in above-average health, but during missions they are also exposed to extreme, dangerous conditions."

In his opinion, taking risks—as astronauts do—is essential for humanity's development. "Once, daredevils discovered new lands; now, step by step, they conquer space. A scientific theory holds that there's a genetic predisposition to exploration. According to this theory, people who are born to overcome limitations and push boundaries possess the explorer gene, the Ulysses gene. Without such people, we would still be living in the Stone Age," concluded Dr. Alessandro Alcibiade.

Anna Bugajska (PAP)

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