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A chronobiologic computerized modular health care (telehygiene) system for humans in extraterrestrial space 1) monitors and analyzes physiologic blood pressure, heart rate and other variation, including that in tumor markers; 2) recognizes earliest risk elevation by dynamic changes in the 'usual value' range (trend and rhythm alteration); 3) prompts timely and timed treatment for cardiovascular and emotional disease and malignancy prevention, and 4) serves for health improvement; the information from the system can also help optimize shift-work schedules for peak performance and provides endpoints of interest in basic science. The system exploits the chronome, a genetically anchored, habitat-synchronized structure of multifrequency rhythms and trends which is now documented (by longitudinal data series) to respond to magnetic disturbance in the solar system, with consequences expressed in catastrophic illness that is best prevented. Such a system, rated by peers as being of highest priority, could complement classical tools such as the stethoscope, proposed by the U.S. Johnson Space Center representative for use on the moon.

The realization of the implications of splitting the atom ended a tragic war. The nuclear age ensued. Likewise, a devastating escalation of health care costs could be ended by realizing the implications of splitting the normal range. Our currently disease-cure-oriented health care system does too little too late. Chronobiology could change this status quo into a system that recognizes risk early; it would gain new information from the resolution of predictable variations that take place within the physiologic range. Investment into vaccinations leads to returns in the form of savings in suffering and cost. A relatively modest investment into a 'Blood Pressure Health Start', pursued while chronobiology is being taught as an integral part in primary, secondary, higher and continued education, may not only drastically and in some respects promptly reduce the health care bill, but it would help the economy of the country that invests into the development of instrumentation for a chronobiologic systems approach. On the one hand, reducing the number of cases of catastrophic diseases, via improved diagnosis (to start with) of the blood pressure status, is likely to substantially reduce the budget deficit by reducing the legitimate and essential costs of care (to start with, of strokes and heart attacks, that kill more people than all other diseases combined and that have blood pressure disorders as their major risk factor). On the other hand, by implementing a novel health care system which also involves new technology that can become in demand worldwide, any trade balance will be improved.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)