Issues of health evaluation during simulated space mission to Mars
Part 2. Vegetative regulation of blood circulation in the Martian crew individuals in the Mars 500 project

Abstract

In order to evaluate the vegetative regulation of blood circulation and assess individual health risks under conditions of the 520 day isolation, used was an analysis of the heart rate variability (HRV). The most significant changes in the HRV values against the background data were reported in the second half of the said experiment. At that time, the heart rate (HR) values showed some reductions, the standard deviation of normal-to-normal beats (SDNN) was increased, and the simultaneous activation of all regulation members (pNN50 – parasympathetic regulation, IC and VLF – the sympathetic and neurohumoral regulation) occurred. The period of “the Mars orbiting”, the time of the crew dividing and “the landing to Mars” featured the highest level of the tension of the regulatory systems and the significant increase in the health risks. An assessment of the functional state of the organism and the adaptation level according to the degree of the tension (DT) of the regulatory systems and their functional reserve (FR) made it possible not only to confirm the presence of the changes identified by the commonly used HRV, but to make them more apparent as well. An assessment of group risks of adaptation disorders at all stages of the experiment provided support that on the average the risk category did not exceed the safe levels, and the functional state of the crew individuals remained within the zone of the physiological norm. Reported were a minor reduction in the functional reserves and a minor increase in the degree of tension.

Imprint

Evgenie Y. Bersenev, Vasily B. Rusanov, Anna G. Chernikova. Vegetative regulation of blood circulation in the Martian crew individuals in the Mars 500 project; Cardiometry; No.2; May 2013; p.62-73; DOI: 10.12710/cardiometry.2013.2.6273 Available from: http://www.cardiometry.net/issues/no2-may-2013/vegetative-regulation-of-blood-circulation