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ChemicalRain5513 t1_jdgvszx wrote

Reply to comment by Dark_Believer in How does the gravity (or lack thereof) on the ISS affect digestive systems of it's occupants? by Bob_Perdunsky

Wouldn't patients lying flat in bed all day experience a similar issue?

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auraseer t1_jdh29c4 wrote

Only very slightly. I read a study on this, and they found that the effect is almost too small to measure, affecting only odors that were barely perceptible in the first place.

This might be because it's nearly impossible for a person to be truly flat and immobile for long enough. They'll turn their head, lift it sightly from the pillow, etc., and even small shifts like that would affect fluid movements.

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joanzen t1_jdnxf4b wrote

Reading up on how quadriplegics cope with a lack of body movement while still eating whole foods is quite interesting.

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