Aerospace Medicine

Aerospace Medicine is a specialized field of medicine focused on the health and safety of individuals involved in aviation and space travel.

Aerospace medicine physicians, also known as flight surgeons, are responsible for the medical care of pilots, astronauts, and other aviation professionals.

They ensure that these individuals are fit to fly and help them manage the unique physiological challenges associated with air and space travel, such as exposure to high altitudes, radiation, and microgravity.

In addition to working with healthy individuals, aerospace medicine specialists are involved in the treatment and management of medical conditions that may be exacerbated by flying, such as decompression sickness, hypoxia, and the effects of prolonged spaceflight on muscle and bone density.

They also conduct research on how flight conditions affect human biology and develop strategies to mitigate these effects.

Aerospace medicine is a multidisciplinary field that overlaps with occupational medicine, cardiology, pulmonology, and emergency medicine.

Physicians in this field work with government agencies such as NASA, the military, and commercial aviation organizations to ensure the safety of aircrews and passengers.