New York: Recent pictures of Sunita Williams and Barry ‘Butch’ Wilmore from the International Space Station (ISS) hinted at deteriorating heath of the NASA astronauts who are stuck in space.
Drastic weight loss is a common health problem faced by astronauts during long halts in space
ISS does not have gravity. The microgravity environment of space changes the body metabolism and utilisation of energy by the body, thereby making it difficult to maintain healthy body mass.
Dr Vinay Gupta, a pulmonologist from Seattle, observed that recent pictures of Williams showed her sunken cheeks, which suggest a calorie deficit.
However, exercising daily for about two-and-a-half hours can help strengthen body muscles.
Moreover, limited space disrupts normal sleeping pattern, causing physical and mental stress.
Both NASA astronauts had flown to space for an eight-day expedition. However, their stay got extended due to a technical glitch in Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft.
The astronauts are expected to return to Earth in February in SpaceX’s Dragon capsule.