A new study suggests that long periods in space can cause the human heart to shrink. The study -- by a team of American researchers -- comes as the U.S. makes plans to build a long-term base on the moon and prepares to send astronauts to Mars. Part of the study was based on the experiences of retired astronaut Scott Kelly. The U.S. space agency NASA says that during his career, Kelly spent more time in space than any other American astronaut. One of Kelly’s stays aboard the International Space Station (ISS) lasted 340 days. Researchers from the University of Texas’ Southwestern Medical Center (UT Southwestern) in Dallas examined physical data collected during Scott’s long stay aboard the ISS. The goal was to learn the effects of weightlessness on heart health and performance. The team found that during Kelly’s stay in space, the left ventricle of his heart shrank about 0.74 grams per week. Dr. Benjamin Levine is a professor of internal medicine at UT Southwestern. He was the leader of the research. In a statement, he explained that because of the conditions in space, the heart does not have to work as hard to pump blood uphill from the feet. Over time, this can cause shrinkage. The heart has to work harder to keep blood flowing as it works against gravity, Levine explained. This permits the heart to keep its size and perform effectively. In an effort to keep their muscles and organs healthy in space, astronauts are required to perform different kinds of exercises throughout their stay.
Title: Study: Long Periods in Space Can Shrink the Heart
Content: <div id='article-page'><div id='article-content' data-media-url='//news-app-staging.s3.amazonaws.com' data-base-url='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5003/A.wav' data-capture-url='//staging.analytics.lingraphica.com/events/capture_news' data-article-title='Study: Long Periods in Space Can Shrink the Heart' data-article-id='5532'><script src='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com/javascripts/getscripts.js'></script><link rel='stylesheet' href='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com/stylesheets/article.css' type='text/css' /><div class='article'><p><span data-start-time='0' data-end-time='9729'>A new study suggests that long periods in space can cause the human heart to shrink.</span> <span data-start-time='9729' data-end-time='26771'>The study -- by a team of American researchers -- comes as the U.S. makes plans to build a long-term base on the moon and prepares to send astronauts to Mars.</span> <span data-start-time='26771' data-end-time='35563'>Part of the study was based on the experiences of retired astronaut Scott Kelly. </span> <span data-start-time='35563' data-end-time='48729'>The U.S. space agency NASA says that during his career, Kelly spent more time in space than any other American astronaut. </span> <span data-start-time='48729' data-end-time='58667'>One of Kelly’s stays aboard the International Space Station (ISS) lasted 340 days.</span> <span data-start-time='58667' data-end-time='77917'>Researchers from the University of Texas’ Southwestern Medical Center (UT Southwestern) in Dallas examined physical data collected during Scott’s long stay aboard the ISS. </span> <span data-start-time='77917' data-end-time='86438'>The goal was to learn the effects of weightlessness on heart health and performance.</span> <span data-start-time='86438' data-end-time='100583'>The team found that during Kelly’s stay in space, the left ventricle of his heart shrank about 0.74 grams per week.</span> <span data-start-time='100583' data-end-time='109188'>Dr. Benjamin Levine is a professor of internal medicine at UT Southwestern. </span> <span data-start-time='109188' data-end-time='112604'>He was the leader of the research. </span> <span data-start-time='112604' data-end-time='126563'>In a statement, he explained that because of the conditions in space, the heart does not have to work as hard to pump blood uphill from the feet. </span> <span data-start-time='126563' data-end-time='130854'>Over time, this can cause shrinkage.</span> <span data-start-time='130854' data-end-time='140646'>The heart has to work harder to keep blood flowing as it works against gravity, Levine explained. </span> <span data-start-time='140646' data-end-time='147271'>This permits the heart to keep its size and perform effectively.</span> <span data-start-time='147271' data-end-time='161042'>In an effort to keep their muscles and organs healthy in space, astronauts are required to perform different kinds of exercises throughout their stay.</span> </p></div><div class='control-buttons-sticky' style='display:none;'><div class='control-buttons'><button title='Back' class='back' disabled='disabled'></button><button title='Play' class='play' disabled='disabled'></button><button title='Pause' class='pause' style='display:none;'></button><button title='Forward' class='forward' disabled='disabled'></button><button class='finished-reading' style='display:none;'>Done</button></div></div></div><div id='article-media'><div id='media-image'><img src='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5003/A.jpeg'/></div></div><div id='question-content' style='display:none;'><div class='vocabulary_question question-container' data-question-id=17166 data-hint-location='126563' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5003/how_is_the_word_shrinkage_defined.wav'>How is the word shrinkage defined?</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='The act or process of becoming smaller'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5003/the_act_or_process_of_becoming_smaller.wav'><span>The act or process of becoming smaller</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5003/the_act_or_process_of_becoming_larger.wav'><span>The act or process of becoming larger</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5003/when_something_stays_the_same_size.wav'><span>When something stays the same size</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5003/the_amount_of_fluid_in_the_body.wav'><span>The amount of fluid in the body</span></div></div></div><div class='multiple_choice_question question-container' data-question-id=17167 data-hint-location='147271' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5003/how_do_astronauts_attempt_to_keep_their_muscles_and_organs_healthy_in_space.wav'>How do astronauts attempt to keep their muscles and organs healthy in space?</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='Exercising'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5003/eating_candy.wav'><span>Eating candy</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5003/soaking_in_a_hot_tub.wav'><span>Soaking in a hot tub</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5003/exercising.wav'><span>Exercising</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5003/reading_books.wav'><span>Reading books</span></div></div></div><div class='sentence_completion_question question-container' data-question-id=17168 data-hint-location='9729' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5003/the_study__by_a_team_of_american_researchers__comes_as_the_us_makes_plans_to_build_a_longterm_base_on_the_moon_and_prepares_to_send_astronauts_to__blank_.wav'>The study -- by a team of American researchers -- comes as the U.S. makes plans to build a long-term base on the moon and prepares to send astronauts to <span class='blank'>Mars</span>.</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='Mars'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5003/jupiter.wav'><span>Jupiter</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5003/mars.wav'><span>Mars</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5003/neptune.wav'><span>Neptune</span></div><div class='choice' 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