Present state of knowledge: Each of the HRP Disciplines provide recommendations for maintenance of crew health and safety during ISS missions, including some (e.g., exercise, diet, sleep, psychological support) that in ground-based applications have a direct effect on cardiovascular health. While prospective studies of cardiovascular health are ongoing, to date there has been an insufficient number of subjects volunteering for these protocols to test for different effects of inflight habits (countermeasures) on cardiovascular health outcomes. Further, there has not been a systematic retrospective assessment of inflight habits related to infight and postflight cardiovascular health outcome data available through medical records and the ISS Standard Measures Study. Epidemiological studies of the long-term health implications of spaceflight have not considered inflight countermeasures. In addition to the inflight habits encouraged during spaceflight (e.g., exercise, appropriate dietary choices, improved sleep habits, managing psychological stress), countermeasures might include dietary and pharmacological interventions that have shown promise in ground-based research such as sulfhydryl or thiol compounds, anti-oxidants, anti-inflammatories, and cholesterol level-modifying medications (e.g., statins and γ-tocotrienol).

Research approach: Countermeasure efficacy tests in ISS astronauts through the ISS Standard Measures Study (e. g. 1YMP) and retrospective analysis of medical records.

Results/deliverables: Countermeasures and procedures against spaceflight-induced changes in the cardiovascular system that can lead to later disease. Understanding of which countermeasures are operationally-feasible during exploration missions within the context of the DRM.