"Astronauts' Headaches: A Major Challenge in Space Travel"
A new study involving 24 astronauts from the U.S., European and Japanese space agencies who traveled aboard the International Space Station for up to 26 weeks has revealed that astronauts are more likely to experience headaches in space than previously known. The headaches, some resembling migraines and others resembling tension headaches, occurred not only during the first couple of weeks in space but also later, possibly due to different mechanisms. The study suggests that the lack of gravity during space travel can cause nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and headaches, while later headaches could result from an increase in intracranial pressure due to fluid accumulation in the upper part of the body and head. This adds to the growing body of research on the effects of space travel on the human body, with implications for future long-duration space missions.