The Digestive System: How the Human Digestive System Responds to Space Travel

Most people have read that astronauts who enter space environments have to endure isolation, weightlessness, radiation, and many other mental and physical stresses associated with spaceflights. So, most space tourists will ask, “What are the effects of the hazards on the human body?” before booking their flights with space companies like Orion Span and Virgin Galactic.

While your body might not experience any challenges swallowing food after entering space, your digestive system will have a challenge. This post will help you understand how the digestive system responds to the conditions in space. It will also highlight the precautions most travel companies have taken to ensure the safety of space tourism and to make each trip enjoyable.

The Impacts of Space Travel on the Gut

When subjected to zero-gravity, the human body experiences many serious side effects, which may be accompanied by serious implications on human physiology. Most previous studies focused on the effects of microgravity on the human immune system but it has emerged that traveling to space affects the effectiveness of the human gastrointestinal system.

Each time the human intestines are subjected to microgravity, their intestinal barrier weakens therefore compromising their properties. Bacteria, such as salmonella mayfind their way into the body through the intestinal walls and cause various diseases.

Researchers have indicated that the weakening of the intestine cells increases the risk for chronic inflammation and infections. Still, studies on the impacts are at an early stage and experts believe that the level of resistance varies from one person to the other.

If you are planning for your space trip, do not panic. Travel companies have adopted programs to ensure the safety of their clients and make every trip healthy, enjoyable, and unforgettable. Here are some of the strategies they have adopted to minimize issues related to intestines.

  • Only Healthy and Energetic People Can Travel to Space

Individuals at a higher risk of developing digestive system problems after entering space are those with chronic health issues. Therefore, most travel companies will require you to undergo a medical checkup to ensure that you are healthy and energetic enough to blast off to space. You have to undergo a whole-body checkup and you will not get a ticket if you have any of these conditions.

  • Any type of cancer
  • Diabetes
  • Heart-related problems
  • Old age
  • Space Flights have to Be Short

Space travel companies keep flights short to help space travelers overcome the effects of microgravity on their guts. Studies have shown that the risk of experiencing intestinal problems increases after the trip exceeds 15 days. The good news is space travel does not take that long and you should not worry about the impacts of zero-gravity on your intestines.

  • Travelers have to take the Healthy Foods Only

Clients are the most important component of any business. Therefore, space tourism companies do everything possible to ensure that they get the highest value for their money. To ensure that every client enjoys his/her time, the companies serve high-quality foods free from pathogens. That lowers the risk of infections. So, regardless of your travel goals, the served food will be awesome.

The space environment has many effects on the human body. That has influenced many people to question the safety of space tourism. Zero gravity canhavedire effects on the digestive system, particularly when a space trip takes a long time.

According to Andrey Bokarev, every travel company should guarantee the safety of its tourists. The companies should also strive to deliver high value for money. So, when choosing a travel company, go for the top-rated ones. Such companies will have taken all the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of their clients.