Pathophysiological aspects of microgravity and gravity therapy in cardiovascular diseases

Abstract

Deconditioning in space from gravity deprivation, the problems of the consequences of modern sedentary lifestyle, bed rest and changes observed in sedentary aging demonstrate similar mechanisms of development, which are interpreted as disorders of mechanotransduction. Tensegrity theory provides the framework for understanding how external and internal mechanical forces influence biological control at the molecular and cellular levels in conditions associated with a sharp and steady disappearance of the gravitational vector signal. Microgravity causes pathologies such as severe loss of bone density and skeletal muscle strength, loss of functional capacity of the cardiovascular system, immune system and other disorders. The effect on the human body for therapeutic and preventive purposes with various parameters of artificial gravity is a modern and highly effective technology of restorative medicine.   The aim of this lecture is to summarize the most important findings about the effects of gravitational therapy in different, mainly vascular based pathologies according to literary sources.