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Space Headaches (Space Headaches)
04.26.13

OpNom: Space Headaches

Overview | Description | Applications | Operations | Results | Publications | Imagery

Experiment Overview

This content was provided by A. Vein, and is maintained in a database by the ISS Program Science Office.

Information provided courtesy of the Erasmus Experiment Archive.
Brief Summary

The Space Headaches investigation involves obtaining current, pre, in-flight and post-flight data via questionnaires to evaluate the prevalence and characteristics of crewmembers' headaches in microgravity. Space Headaches investigators use this data to assess crewmember headache episodes, analyze characteristics of the headaches and provide the basis for developing future countermeasures.

Principal Investigator(s)

  • A. Vein, Department of Neurology, Leiden, Netherlands

    • Co-Investigator(s)/Collaborator(s)

  • M. D. Ferrari, Department of Neurology, Leiden, Netherlands
  • G. M. Terwindt, Department of Neurology, Leiden, Netherlands
  • W. P.J. van Oosterhout, Department of Neurology, Netherlands

    • Developer(s)
    Information Pending

    Sponsoring Space Agency

    European Space Agency (ESA)

    Sponsoring Organization

    Information Pending

    Research Benefits

    Information Pending

    ISS Expedition Duration:

    September 2011 - September 2014

    Expeditions Assigned

    29/30,31/32,33/34,35/36,37/38,39/40

    Previous ISS Missions

    Information Pending

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    Experiment Description

    Research Overview

    It is hypothesized that headaches in microgravity represent a separate entity among the secondary headaches attributed to disorders of homeostasis. Space Headaches will aim to:

    • Obtain retrospective post-flight data to allow the evaluation of headache episodes in crewmembers that have participated in space missions during the past 15 years.


    • Assess the incidence of headache episodes in current crewmembers.


    • Analyze headache characteristics and classify headaches according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders.


    • Provide the basis for developing future countermeasures for headaches during space flight in order to minimize complaints and optimize the crewmember's working ability and the living conditions.

    Description

    Information Pending

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    Applications

    Space Applications

    Headaches can be a common complaint during space flights. This can negatively affect mental and physical capacities of astronauts/cosmonauts which can influence performance during a space mission. Data from this experiment will improve our understanding of such conditions amongst astronauts, providing a stepping stone to development of countermeasures to alleviate associated symptoms thus improving the well-being of our astronauts in orbit in and in turn improving astronaut performance.

    Earth Applications

    Headaches are also common on Earth, either as an isolated condition or as one symptom of another medical condition. Improving the knowledge we gather in space of the nature and occurrence of headaches could also provide an insight to associated conditions on Earth.

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    Operations

    Operational Requirements

    Information Pending

    Operational Protocols

    Information Pending

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    Results/More Information

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    Related Websites
  • BBC News ? Space Headache a Real Phenomenon
  • National Geographic News ? ?Space Headache? a New Type of Astronaut Affliction?
  • COSMOS ? Space Headache: A New Health Complaint for Astronauts

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    Imagery

    Information provided by the investigation team to the ISS Program Scientist's Office.
    If updates are needed to the summary please contact JSC-ISS-Program-Science-Group. For other general questions regarding space station research and technology, please feel free to call our help line at 281-244-6187 or e-mail at JSC-ISS-Research-Helpline.
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