Weightlessness, health, . . . and other stories
BMJ 2021; 373 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n914 (Published 15 April 2021) Cite this as: BMJ 2021;373:n914
Space travel
The cleverness of rocket scientists is legendary, but Minerva sometimes wonders if they’ve fully grasped the physiological challenges of the prolonged weightlessness that interplanetary travel will entail. Data from an astronaut who spent a year on the International Space Station show a gradual but progressive loss of left ventricular mass despite sustained periods of exercise (Circulation doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.120.050418). The same thing occurred in an extreme long-distance swimmer—another activity that reduces gravitational loading.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in older people
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs inhibit cyclooxygenases and alter renal haemodynamics and salt and water excretion. However, a study from the US suggests that this rarely results in harm to the …
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