Use of lower body negative pressure to counter symptoms of orthostatic intolerance in patients, bed rest subjects, and astronauts

• Published in: Journal of clinical pharmacology Vol. 33; no. 11; p. 1071
• Main Authors: Lathers, C M, Charles, J B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.11.1993
• Subjects: Autonomic Nervous System Diseases - complications; Bed Rest - adverse effects; Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; Heart Rate - physiology; Humans; Hypotension, Orthostatic - etiology; Hypotension, Orthostatic - prevention & control; Lower Body Negative Pressure - instrumentation; Military Personnel; Posture; Space Flight; Syncope - etiology; NASA Discipline Cardiopulmonary; NASA Center JSC
• ISSN: 0091-2700
• DOI: 10.1002/j.1552-4604.1993.tb01944.x

This report briefly discusses some aspects of autonomic cardiovascular dysfunction as related to changes in orthostatic function in patients, bed rest subjects, and astronauts. This relationship is described in normal individuals to provide the basis for discussion of parameters that may be altered in patients, bed rest subjects, and astronauts. The relationships between disease states, age, periods of weightlessness during space flight, and autonomic dysfunction, and their contribution to changes in orthostatic tolerance are presented. The physiologic effects of lower body negative pressure are illustrated by presenting data obtained in bed rest subjects and in astronauts. Finally, the usefulness of lower body negative pressure to counter symptoms of orthostatic intolerance in patients, bed rest subjects, and astronauts is discussed.