When we talk about the dangers of heatwaves, we often think of sweating, dehydration, physical exhaustion, or sunburn. However, the effects of heat do not stop at the skin or the body’s organs. The brain is also affected when temperatures rise and the body struggles to maintain its normal temperature.
The international Health Organization indicates that exposure to extreme heat can affect both physical and mental health. It may also worsen certain mental health disorders and pre-existing medical conditions.
Why Do We Become More Tense in Hot Weather?
In hot conditions, the body works continuously to cool itself through sweating and increased blood flow to the skin. This process requires additional physical effort and energy, especially when humidity is high or when a person does not drink enough water.
This strain can cause fatigue and discomfort and reduce a person’s ability to cope with everyday stress. As a result, minor situations may become more irritating, and people may be more likely to feel agitated or nervous or to respond more impulsively.
This does not mean that heat changes a person’s personality. Rather, it may temporarily reduce their ability to regulate their emotions, particularly when combined with exhaustion, lack of sleep, and dehydration.
Heat, Concentration, and Decision-Making
The brain requires a stable physical environment to function efficiently. When body temperature rises, attention, working memory, information processing, and the ability to make complex decisions may be affected.
Studies have found that exposure to severe heat stress can affect certain executive functions, including sustained attention, response control, and the ability to think before making a decision. However, the extent of these effects varies from person to person and depends on the intensity of the heat, the duration of exposure, physical activity, health status, and how accustomed the person is to a hot climate.
For this reason, some people may find it difficult to complete tasks that require prolonged concentration during the afternoon, or they may make hasty decisions because they want to end an uncomfortable situation quickly.
Insomnia Makes the Problem Worse
Hot summer nights can also affect sleep quality. When the bedroom is too warm, a person may find it difficult to fall asleep or may wake up several times during the night.
Lack of sleep is associated with fatigue, irritability, and reduced concentration the following day. This can create a recurring cycle: high temperatures, followed by disrupted sleep, followed by increased tension and mental exhaustion.
Research examining the relationship between heatwaves, sleep, and cognitive abilities suggests that sleep quality may play an important role in protecting mental performance, particularly among older adults.
Who Is Most Affected?
Heat can affect everyone, but certain groups are more vulnerable to its complications. These include older adults, children, outdoor workers, and people with chronic illnesses or mental health disorders.
Some medications may also affect the body’s ability to regulate its temperature or increase the risk of dehydration. Therefore, no medication should be stopped without consulting a doctor. Instead, a doctor or pharmacist should be asked about the appropriate precautions to take during heatwaves. Health authorities also explain that people with certain mental health conditions may be more vulnerable to heat-related problems.
Recommendations from the international Health Organization
The international Health Organization recommends reducing direct exposure to heat, particularly during the hottest hours of the day. Stay in a cool or well-ventilated place and drink water regularly.
Set aside 10 to 15 minutes for deep breathing or relaxation in a cool room. These few minutes will not lower the outdoor temperature, but they can help calm the body’s stress response and reduce impulsive reactions.
It is also preferable to postpone sensitive discussions and important decisions until you feel more comfortable and focused. When you notice that you are becoming irritable, step away from the situation briefly, drink some water, and cool your body before continuing the conversation.
Try to get good-quality sleep whenever possible. Use curtains during the day and ventilate the bedroom when the outdoor temperature drops. A balanced diet, including fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids, may support overall brain health, but it cannot replace drinking water or cooling the body during exposure to extreme heat.
When Does Heat Become a Medical Emergency?
Symptoms such as severe confusion, fainting, loss of balance, an intense headache, extremely hot skin, or a high body temperature must be taken seriously. These symptoms may indicate heatstroke, which is a medical emergency requiring immediate assistance.
Heatwaves do not affect the body alone. They may also influence mood, sleep, concentration, and the way decisions are made. Although these effects vary from one person to another, cooling the body, drinking water, getting enough sleep, and reducing stress during periods of extreme heat are simple measures that may help protect the brain and mental health.
Staying calm during the summer does not depend on willpower alone. Sometimes, the mind simply needs a glass of water, a cool place, and a little rest.
