The Effects Of Zero Gravity On Sleep
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Sleeping in space may seem like a real dream and for over 60 years man has been finding ways to make zero gravity and sleep coincide with one another successfully. It may seem simple, being able to sleep weightless in the air and not having to feel the weight of a rough mattress underneath the body, but space and sleep often don’t go hand in hand. Sleeping in space can take a real toll on the body. Learn how zero gravity affects the human body in space, and why the affects can be so disastrous. After all, zero gravity means no support for the body, which can make sleep very difficult indeed.
No Control or Support of the Body
First of all, zero gravity means a free-floating body that has no true support. The goal of any mattress or sleeping situation is to support the major joints such as the knees, neck, shoulders and spine but entire body can be pulled in every direction at once when in space and can affect the body when someone sleeps. No matter how well-trained someone may be, the only solution is to Velcro strap the body down to control it so it does not float in uncomfortable positions all night long.
There is no real way to find true comfort while sleeping in zero gravity. For even the most skilled astronaut, the only way to sleep is to get used to the lack of gravitational support, rely on Velcro to support the body to stay down, and hope for the best in a nights’ rest.
Oh, that Weightless Feeling
While many astronauts say that they eventually get used to the fact that their arms and legs are basically free-floating while they sleep, still others will comment that they struggle to fall asleep successfully no matter how hard they try. Even worse, the effects seem to be even more dramatic once they are back in their own beds here on Earth. They are unable to fall asleep even in familiar territory as their bodies cannot adjust to suddenly having gravity on their side.
Can Zero Gravity Mean a Good Night’s Rest?
For many people, learning to sleep in space is as much about accepting ones’ surroundings as it is about being crafty. Many astronauts learn to strap their beds down to avoid having them float away and run into things. Still others will strap down their arms and legs to avoid smacking themselves in their sleep by floating limbs. Astronauts have even learned the hard way that they must strap their pillows down with Velcro or else risk waking up with a sore neck.
In the 60 years since astronauts have first encountered space, many innovations besides Velcro have allowed astronauts to get a great night’s rest without sacrificing their heath or well-being despite the zero gravity consequences. How do you sleep well at night? Whether you are sleeping in space or on a mattress in Melbourne, make sure you sleep in a way that is good for your body.
As long as astronauts have been exploring the universe, sleep has remained a stubborn challenge. With the aid of Velcro and well-placed beds, astronauts can be trained to learn how to live in zero gravity space without sacrificing precious sleep in order to do so. Since a lack of gravity can wear down the joints and leave bones achy and sore, it’s important to make sure that when dealing with sleep in space, one knows how to use their mattress to its best advantage for a great night’s sleep.
