Asthma - The Research Thats Happening In Space
Asthma - Research In Space
Millions of people around the world suffering from asthma may soon benefit from pioneering research conducted in orbit. This groundbreaking research has opened new avenues for understanding the underlying causes of airway inflammation in patients with asthma. The results of this research have contributed to the development of quick lung tests that can improve the quality of life for both astronauts and people on Earth.
Normally, our bodies absorb oxygen and exhale waste products with each breath. In people with asthma, inflammation in the lungs causes them to exhale nitric oxide with each breath. Doctors can measure the amount of nitric oxide exhaled by patients to diagnose lung inflammation and asthma.
As part of ESA-sponsored research, astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) have been breathing into a specially developed instrument that measures nitric oxide levels. This research, led by Lars Karlsson from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, has been ongoing for over a decade and is currently focused on the Airway Monitoring experiments. These experiments analyze the amount of nitric oxide exhaled by astronauts under various conditions in the weightless environment of space, such as normal pressure, reduced pressure in an airlock, and pre-/post-spacewalk.
The reduced pressure measurements in an airlock simulate conditions in future habitats on Mars, which is equivalent to being at an altitude of 3000 m (9843 ft) on Earth. The instrument used to measure nitric oxide is lightweight, easy to use, and accurate. It is currently used in clinics and hospitals to diagnose lung problems in asthmatics.
In collaboration with the pharmaceutical industry, the same researchers have developed a nitric oxide-donating drug called Supernitro that has a uniquely selective effect in lung circulation. This drug widens blood vessels and counteracts life-threatening increases in local blood pressure.
In addition to aiding in the diagnosis and treatment of lung inflammation during spaceflight, understanding the effects of weightlessness and reduced pressure on airway health can help space explorers monitor and ensure the health and safety of astronauts on longer missions beyond Earth's orbit. On the Moon and Mars, floating dust can easily irritate or inflame astronauts' lungs due to the reduced gravity on those celestial bodies.
