Anyone want a 1-way ticket to Mars?

This could mean real quality of life issues for those with issues from cardio-pulmonary or musculo-skeletal ailments.

Well, if you are fit enough to survive the acceleration, you probably don't have those ailments... yet. However, you raise a good point in that Mars should present less of a risk of those developing. So, that healthy 60-year-old might stay healthy longer.

Unfortunately, this is incorrect; zero gravity actually increases the risk of cardio-pulmonary or musculo-skeletal ailments.

For the heart, the lack of gravity means it doesn't need to work as hard. This may sound good at first, but it actually means that space is the exact opposite of a cardio workout. Due to less stress, the heartbeat slows down and the heart can actually shrink dangerously. Basically, if your heart was weak before, it's going to get much weaker in space. Studies have also shown that plasma and red blood cell counts drop in zero g, which could lead to immunology problems and anemia. And some other studies shows that radiation can cause potential long terms problems with arteries.

Without the stress of gravity, your bones also stop growing and repairing themselves. A short trip into space is basically the same as coming down with a temporary case of osteoporosis. If you already had that condition before you went up, your bones are going to get even more brittle. There's also a related problem with calcium; since you're body stops using calcium for bones, you can get a dangerous case of hypercalcemia in your blood. This can lead to kidney and heart problems. And just to round things out, the lack of pressure causes your spine and joints to expand, which can cause painful back issues and probably exacerbate arthritis.
 

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Embarrassingly, I knew that and forgot. Stuff like that is why they always include the centrifugal wheel (or similar device) in the more realistic sci-fi: it allows the travelers to avoid or mitigate the very deterioration you mention.
 
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Unfortunately, this is incorrect; zero gravity actually increases the risk of cardio-pulmonary or musculo-skeletal ailments.

Yeah, but the surface of Mars is not a zero-G environment!

Mars has a surface gravity of about 0.37g. Very much non-zero - expected* to be high enough to maintain bone density but still be a reduced stress on the body. Your astronaut who weighs in at 180 lbs on Earth feels like he weighs about 66 lbs on Mars. Add in another 100+lbs of pressure suit, and the guy still feels like he weighs about 100 lbs.


*We haven't had a person in such an environment for extended periods before, so of course it is a guess. That's part of the risk of exploration.
 

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