Extreme heat and your mental health

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Everyone is potentially vulnerable in extreme heat!

We know that extreme heat puts people at risk for having heat related illnesses like heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Now we know that heat in the extreme also has serious effects on our mental health too!

How does extreme heat affect mental health?

Heat raises your body’s level of cortisol. Cortisol is a stress hormone that is located in your brain. The rise of cortisol can affect our behavior and create mood changes.

This increased stress we feel can make people irritable under the right circumstances. And can lead to increased aggression, including incidences of domestic violence.

Extreme heat increases irritability, symptoms of depression and anxiety and even suicidal thoughts and actions. Even a slight bump in the average monthly temperature leads to increases in suicide and suicidal behavior.

Sleep difficulties are associated with extreme heat and contribute to and further exacerbate mental health symptoms. This is due to a rise in the levels of cortisol in our bodies.

Excessive heat can alter our levels of serotonin a neurotransmitter that helps regulate mood, behavior and sleep. And may lead to changes in mood such as anger, frustration or irritability.

High temperatures are linked with memory problems, attention and reaction time changes.

Higher heat is connected with increased substance use.

Alcohol is a diuretic. It increases urine production and leads to fluid loss. If alcohol is not balanced with sufficient water intake it causes dehydration. This is especially so during times of extreme heat.

Who is more vulnerable?

Those of us especially vulnerable to the impacts of extreme heat are older adults, children and those of us with preexisting mental health conditions.

Studies report days with higher-than-normal temperatures during the summer are linked with increased rates of visits to emergency departments for mental health-related conditions. This includes mood disorders.

People with dementia have an increased risk for hospitalization and death during heat waves.

If you are taking some psychiatric medications, including certain antidepressants and antipsychotics you might be at risk. These medications can affect the way a person’s body regulates temperature.

Certain antidepressants, antipsychotics and benzodiazepines can also decrease thirst sensations. As a result people aren’t aware they’re becoming dehydrated.

If you take lithium do know it causes the kidneys to release more water creating more urination and sweating potentially causes dehydration. As a result, lithium levels in the body can become concentrated, and that can be toxic.

Importantly do consult with your doctor if you are concerned about any of your medications.

What can I do?

We are all encouraged to stay hydrated and take precautions. This is especially true for those of us who are more vulnerable to extreme heat.

It’s important to check in on those people you know who may be more vulnerable to extreme heat conditions to see how they are faring.

In periods of extreme heat do stay in a cool environment as much as possible during. Do drink plenty of water to stay hydrated! And do try some stress-management tools like meditation to decrease your stress level.

This great website can help you get a start learning and practicing with meditation: Mindful.org How to Meditate

If you find the stress of dealing with the excessive heat is overwhelming you, do reach out for help. With Depression Therapy and Anxiety Therapy you learn additional stress coping tools!

Do contact me!

JD’s Midlife Tools For Living Practices, Holland, MI
Offering Heartfelt care, Compassion and Coping Tools!