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Dr.
James Pawelczyk (left) and John
Florian, physiology graduate student,
prepare Jennifer Hoffman for a blood
pressure test.
Dick Ackley--Campus
Photography |
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On
Earth, low blood pressure affects almost
exclusively women. But when astronauts
return from missions in space, not only
nearly all women but also 30 to 50 percent
of men experience low blood pressure,
which can cause them to faint. "Understanding
why this happens is critical to the future
of human spaceflight," said Dr. James
A. Pawelczyk, the principal investigator
for a $1.2 million NASA-funded study of
the problem. He and his team of undergraduate
and graduate students, plus technicians
in the College of Health and Human Development,
are looking at blood flow to the gut region
(liver and intestines) and trying different
techniques to see how blood pressure is
affected. The findings have the potential
to benefit astronauts and the general
public. "We have real human challenges
to solve before we can take the next steps
in space exploration--returning to the
Moon and then on to Mars," said Pawelczyk.
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