posted 11-24-2004 06:47 AM
An interesting 'little table' appeared in an ESA magazine recently - which some folk contemplating space tourism flights and with a history of heart problems - or even without problems - may want contemplate.The ESA table showed that as gravity increased from 1-g upto 1.8-g the heart rate increased by an additional 13 beats/minute
When the gravity decreased from 1.8-g down to 0-g the heart beat rate decreased by 23 beats per minute.
When the gravity increased from 0-g upto 1.6-g the heart beat rate increased by additional 19 beats/minute.
These results were obtained on 36 standing subjects in parabolic 'zero-g' flights . The average control heart rate was 83 beats/minute .
Phill
UK