Blaber leads the CARDIOBREATH study, which also involves researchers from the University of North Dakota.
According to Blaber, our bodies undergo a deconditioning process similar to accelerated aging in the weightlessness of space. The changes to an astronauts- cardiovascular systems can cause them to easily tire and faint when they return to Earth.
Their study findings can be used to develop individualized recovery plans for astronauts and also potentially help elderly patients who are recovering from a long hospital stay. The effects of prolonged bed rest can also increase fatigue and cause fainting.
Research by Blaber and team into the impacts of bed rest and exercise on the human body, are soon to be published in the journal, Frontiers in Human Neuroscience .