{"id":126212,"date":"2025-08-07T11:32:18","date_gmt":"2025-08-07T11:32:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/126212\/"},"modified":"2025-08-07T11:32:18","modified_gmt":"2025-08-07T11:32:18","slug":"houston-we-have-a-sinus-problem-new-houston-methodist-research-examines-astronaut-nasal-and-sinus-problems-in-outer-space","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/126212\/","title":{"rendered":"Houston, we have a (sinus) problem: New Houston Methodist research examines astronaut nasal and sinus problems in outer space"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBYLINE:<\/strong> Amy McCaig\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Sinus and congestion problems are more than just earthly annoyances, according to new research from Houston Methodist. A newly-published study reveals that a staggering 85% of astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) experienced at least one nasal and sinus issue during their mission, which can significantly impact health. <\/p>\n

Led by Dr. Masayoshi Takashima<\/a>, chair of the Department of Otolaryngology \u2013 Head and Neck Surgery at Houston Methodist, the study analyzed 754 medical events from 71 astronauts between 2000-2019. In addition to 85% of astronauts reporting at least one nasal or sinus issue, 75% reported nasal congestion, which Takashima said is a common issue due to the lack of gravity pulling blood and other fluids downward. <\/p>\n

And spacewalks made things worse. The pressure shifts from inside the cabin to the inside of a space suit led to increases in congestion, barotrauma (injuries to the ears or sinuses caused by changes in pressure) and Eustachian tube dysfunction (which can result in ear pain, muffled hearing, a feeling of fullness and other issues). <\/p>\n

While the researchers found that astronauts often turned to over-the-counter medications to treat their symptoms, Takashima warned that these drugs may not have the same effects in outer space. He said the study has important implications as human spaceflight \u2013 including space tourism \u2013 become more prevalent. <\/p>\n

\u201cAstronauts are typically among the fittest individuals on the planet, yet this study shows that even they experience substantial sinonasal complaints in space,\u201d Takashima said. \u201cImagine what happens when civilians with preexisting conditions start traveling to space.\u201d<\/p>\n

Takashima said preventative measures such as evaluation for nasal and sinus conditions and minor procedures to improve breathing may be needed for future astronauts. He also stressed the importance of future work to identify treatments that work well in space.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is about maintaining peak performance,\u201d Dr. Takashima said. \u201cIf you\u2019re not sleeping well because you can\u2019t breathe, your cognitive function, reaction time and mission performance can suffer, and those things are absolutely critical in space.\u201d The open-access study was published in Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Co-authors include Faizaan Khan,\u00a0Koyal Ansingkar,\u00a0Roshan Dongre,\u00a0Samuel Razmi and Isuru Somawardana from Texas A&M School of Engineering Medicine, Zain Mehdi,\u00a0Aatin Dhanda, Kayla Powell, Jeffrey Vrabec, Tariq Syed and Omar Ahmed from the Department of Otolaryngology \u2013 Head and Neck Surgery at Houston Methodist, and former astronaut David Hilmers from the Center for Space Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine.<\/p>\n

For more information about Houston Methodist, visit our newsroom<\/a> or our social media pages on X<\/a>, Facebook<\/a>, LinkedIn<\/a>, Instagram<\/a> and TikTok<\/a> or our On Health<\/a> and Leading Medicine<\/a> blogs.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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