Mars is considered an ideal planet for human migration beyond Earth; however, this planet has a relatively different environment compared to our home. This difference can have significant impacts on the human body.
Space travel has harmful effects on the human body, and life in a microgravity environment will definitely lead to certain issues with human bones and joints.
Moreover, bleeding in space is a terrifying prospect for the body, along with other problems such as isolation from radiation and increased pressure on the skull, making injuries in a weightless condition exceedingly dangerous for humans.
Space travel has harmful effects on the human body.
However, these are merely speculations from scientists, as no one has actually settled among the stars. According to these speculations, living on Mars will lead to certain effects on the human body.
Your Heart May Become Weaker
Living on the Red Planet may make your body more susceptible to heart attacks, or at least significantly increase the risk of heart disease.
San Francisco University in California (USA) reports that long-term exposure to outer space can actually create harmful substances for the human cardiovascular system. This is due to the toxic combination of radiation and microgravity, making it harder for the circulatory system to function.
Additionally, both the left and right ventricles of the heart will decrease in volume. This may result from a reduction in blood and cardiac muscle. Astronauts’ heart rates in space are lower than those on Earth. When they stand on the International Space Station (ISS), their heart rate is equivalent to lying down before the flight. Blood pressure in space is also lower than normal.
The circulatory system is greatly affected by gravity on Earth. For example, veins in the legs must work against gravity to return blood to the heart. In space, all effects of gravity disappear, causing changes in the shape and size of blood vessels and the heart.
But that’s not all the problems the body faces. According to Dr. Marlene Grenon from Harvard Medical School, low gravity simulations show that life in microgravity can even alter the expression of certain genes in cells—especially those that conduct electricity in the heart. Changes in these cells can lead to a higher risk of arrhythmias.
According to ScienceAlert, living in a microgravity or low-gravity environment makes it easier for pumping mechanisms in the body, but this is not beneficial for the body; it will cause the heart to become increasingly lazy and less healthy.
Your Body Will Age Faster
Gravity plays a significant role in the ability to replenish bone tissue, bone function, and cellular activity in the body. According to San Francisco University in California, living on the Red Planet, due to much weaker gravity than Earth, can lead to a deficiency in bone tissue.
This means that astronauts residing on Mars are not only more prone to fractures but also lose bone density at an accelerating rate, causing their bone components to age prematurely.
Furthermore, the accelerated aging process may start with the bones, but it certainly doesn’t end there. Newsweek reported in 2021 that a new study shows exposure to radiation in space also causes errors in DNA replication, another issue that leads to astronauts aging before their time. Experts estimate that Mars has radiation levels 17 times higher than those on Earth.
Weakened Immune System
The immune system that protects the body from diseases is also affected by the space environment. Several factors influence this, including radiation, microgravity, psychological stress, loneliness, changes in circadian rhythms, and sleep cycles.
Astronauts’ susceptibility to infections is higher in space conditions.
Additionally, when living outside in space or on Mars, we will be isolated, and increased exposure to bacteria from the astronauts’ own bodies and other crew members will also alter their immune systems. Astronauts are assessed to have a higher likelihood of infections in space, where they may be exposed to extraterrestrial pathogens.
Lower Endurance
Physical endurance is often assessed through the maximum amount of oxygen the body can utilize during physical exercise. The aforementioned changes in the circulatory and musculoskeletal systems contribute to decreased physical endurance in astronauts.
Previous studies have shown that after 9 to 14 days in space, the maximum oxygen uptake reduces by 20% to 25%. However, after about 5 to 6 months in a microgravity environment, this number begins to improve. This indicates that the body shows signs of adaptation, although it never returns to the original state experienced on Earth.
