The physical appearance of UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi has changed significantly since he arrived at the International Space Station three months ago.
Doctors in the UAE have said that Dr Al Neyadi is experiencing what is a common transition for astronauts in space.
The 42-year-old is experiencing what is also known as 'Moon face', a phenomenon caused by a shift in body fluids, leading to facial swelling.
The condition, which is not permanent, goes away once astronauts return to Earth, with gravity pulling fluids back down in the body.
Dr Sana Kausar, an aviation medical examiner at King’s College Hospital Dubai, told The National that weightlessness can take its toll on the human body.
“There is a change in the components of blood and cellular fluid. This also contributes to fluid shift,” she said.
“On Earth, gravity pulls fluid downwards and this can redistribute in space, causing ‘Moon face’ in astronauts.
“In the pictures, we can see that Sultan’s face is noticeably puffier.
“It looks like the ‘Moon face’ we see commonly in astronauts.”
She added that astronauts recover “once gravity kicks back in and affects the fluid redistribution.”
Dr Pavithra Reddy, a specialist in internal medicine at Prime Medical Centre, warned that other health issues can also develop from the swelling.
“Earth's gravity keeps the blood flow throughout the body in order, but in zero gravity, most of the blood and other fluids move up to the chest and facial areas,” she said.
“Therefore, areas of chest and face bloats up as you can in Sultan Al Neyadi's face.
“Due to the high fluid concentration in the facial area, stuffy nose, reduced sense of smell, cold and headaches are normal to occur.”
UAE's first astronaut also got 'a bigger head'
Hazza Al Mansouri, the first UAE citizen to fly to space in 2019, also noted a change in his physical appearance during his eight-day trip when his face swelled up only after two days on the ISS.
“Many changes have happened in my body,” Maj Al Mansouri said at the time, as reported by local media.
“The size of my head grew bigger because of the rush of fluids upwards, and my sense of smell also changed.”
Dr Kausar said that long-duration missions can cause the process of ageing to happen faster.
Maj Al Mansouri was on the ISS for a short stay, but Dr Al Neyadi is there for six months, which is considered a long-duration mission.
“On Earth, ageing affects the cardiovascular and other systems and these changes are seen 10-fold faster in space than on Earth,” Dr Kausar said.
“The human body is adapted to the gravity we have on Earth and would take time to adapt to longer-term exposure to weightlessness, but shorter-term exposure is usually recoverable.”
Nasa astronaut Scott Kelly spent a total of 520 days on the space station, with a consecutive 340 days in 2015 and 2016.
His health was compared with his twin brother on Earth.
It was found that Mr Kelly's eyesight, height and health were dramatically affected by zero gravity.
His heart shrank by 25 per cent, and after one year aboard the ISS, Nasa researchers found he had grown 5cm and was taller than his identical twin brother Mark, who is also an astronaut.
Exercising in space to keep healthy
Dr Al Neyadi has spoken about how astronauts are required to exercise for at least two hours daily to keep healthy.
Bone and muscle mass decreases the longer an astronaut stays in microgravity.
This is why space agencies make it mandatory for their astronauts to use the treadmill and other exercise equipment on the ISS daily.
Nepotism is the name of the game
Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad.
Company Profile
Name: JustClean
Based: Kuwait with offices in other GCC countries
Launch year: 2016
Number of employees: 130
Sector: online laundry service
Funding: $12.9m from Kuwait-based Faith Capital Holding
Other key dates
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Finals draw: December 2
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Finals (including semi-finals and third-placed game): June 5–9, 2019
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Euro 2020 play-off draw: November 22, 2019
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Euro 2020 play-offs: March 26–31, 2020
The specs: Lamborghini Aventador SVJ
Price, base: Dh1,731,672
Engine: 6.5-litre V12
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 770hp @ 8,500rpm
Torque: 720Nm @ 6,750rpm
Fuel economy: 19.6L / 100km
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Match info
Manchester City 3 (Jesus 22', 50', Sterling 69')
Everton 1 (Calvert-Lewin 65')
Uefa Nations League
League A:
Germany, Portugal, Belgium, Spain, France, England, Switzerland, Italy, Poland, Iceland, Croatia, Netherlands
League B:
Austria, Wales, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Ukraine, Republic of Ireland, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Northern Ireland, Denmark, Czech Republic, Turkey
League C:
Hungary, Romania, Scotland, Slovenia, Greece, Serbia, Albania, Norway, Montenegro, Israel, Bulgaria, Finland, Cyprus, Estonia, Lithuania
League D:
Azerbaijan, Macedonia, Belarus, Georgia, Armenia, Latvia, Faroe Islands, Luxembourg, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Liechtenstein, Malta, Andorra, Kosovo, San Marino, Gibraltar
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
All%20The%20Light%20We%20Cannot%20See%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreator%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESteven%20Knight%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%C2%A0%3C%2Fstrong%3EMark%20Ruffalo%2C%20Hugh%20Laurie%2C%20Aria%20Mia%20Loberti%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E1%2F5%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
How tumultuous protests grew
- A fuel tax protest by French drivers appealed to wider anti-government sentiment
- Unlike previous French demonstrations there was no trade union or organised movement involved
- Demonstrators responded to online petitions and flooded squares to block traffic
- At its height there were almost 300,000 on the streets in support
- Named after the high visibility jackets that drivers must keep in cars
- Clashes soon turned violent as thousands fought with police at cordons
- An estimated two dozen people lost eyes and many others were admitted to hospital
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Fly Etihad or Emirates from the UAE to Moscow from 2,763 return per person return including taxes.
Where to stay
Trips on the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian cost from US$16,995 (Dh62,414) per person, based on two sharing.
French business
France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.
Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
