We all keep hearing updates about Astronaut Sunita Williams and crew's spaceflight extension and the possibility of when they would return back home, but have you ever wondered what actually happens to human bodies in space? So here I'm presenting physiological changes that occur while staying in space.
Let's go Future Astronauts!🙌
When traveling to space, the body experiences a phenomenon known as "space sickness" due to the weaker force of gravity. This can lead to symptoms such as headaches, nausea, and vomiting. The vestibular organ in our inner ear, responsible for maintaining balance, is affected by the changes in gravity. However, with time, the brain adjusts to the new gravitational information, and the symptoms of space sickness subside. It's important to note that individuals may experience space sickness differently, and some may not experience it at all. Additionally, upon returning to Earth, readjusting to the stronger force of gravity can lead to similar symptoms, known as "gravity sickness."
Looking at this picture, we can see how the eyes and face of the Astronaut seem puffy wanna know why
The face often swells in space.
Blood and other bodily fluids are pulled by gravity into the lower body. When you go to space, gravity weakens, and thus, fluids are no longer pulled down, resulting in a state where fluids accumulate in the upper body. This is why the face swells in space. The mucous membranes of the nose also swell, so astronauts often have congested noses. If you stay for a while in space, the fluids in your body balance out, and facial swelling typically begins to disappear after a few weeks.
Conversely, astronauts returning to Earth often experience dizziness when standing up, known as orthostatic hypotension. This occurs because gravity on the Earth is stronger than in space, and it is more difficult to deliver blood from the heart to the head. In space, blood can be delivered with less force, so weakening of the heart muscles may also be a cause of dizziness when standing.
Bones and muscles weaken.
If you stay for a long time in space, your muscles and bones will weaken, primarily in the legs and lower back. Gravity always acts on you while you're on the earth, so even if you're not really conscious of resisting gravity, you're always using the muscles of your lower body. In space, where gravity is very weak, posture can be maintained without standing on your legs, and there's no need to use your legs to move about. Muscles weaken, and bone mass decreases if you stay for a long time in space.
Therefore, research is underway to verify, in space, the effects of existing drugs for preventing bone loss by astronauts. Also, to prevent the weakening of muscle and bone, astronauts exercise for about two hours a day during their stay on the International Space Station (ISS).
In space, astronauts are more prone to intense radiation; it's very harmful to the cellular system let's see why :
Extended spaceflight presents scientific challenges regarding the body's ability to protect itself against diseases. Radiation exposure in space can have short and long-term effects on the bone marrow stem cells responsible for creating the blood and immune systems. This can lead to chromosomal aberrations in lymphocytes, weakening the immune system and making the body more vulnerable to both new and existing viruses. The unique conditions of space can also affect the reproduction and function of T-cells, further impacting the body's ability to fight off infections. Understanding and addressing these challenges is crucial for safeguarding the health of astronauts during space missions.
I hope you enjoyed this blog full of Space and the human body 💛🤍🙌 . I'm very excited for the upcoming space week. Well, very interesting things are coming up from Young4stem: blogs, webinars, awesome posts, and much more, so make sure to check that out.
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