Space travel may increase the risk of heart disease, says study

Washington Post : According to a recent study in Scientific Reports, the mortality rate from cardiovascular disease among Apollo lunar astronauts is four to five times higher than for astronauts who flew only in low-Earth orbit or never ventured into space at all. However, the study group was exceptionally small because only about two dozen people have ever left Earth orbit. In fact, the only astronauts who have left Earth’s protective magnetosphere are those who went to the Moon. Three of them have died of heart disease: Neil Armstrong, Ron Evans, and James Irwin. Although one of the study’s authors, Michael Delp of Florida State University, acknowledges that no definitive conclusions can be drawn because the data set is so small, he says the subject warrants further research. As future crewed missions to the Moon and beyond are being contemplated, it is important to better understand the potential health risks associated with space travel, including prolonged exposure to ionizing radiation.