Local psychiatrist explains how heat waves affect mental health

Local psychiatrist explains how heat waves affect mental health

If you’re getting a little more frustrated this week, you may not be alone with temperatures soaring. Experts say the heat isn’t just taking a toll on our bodies, it’s also affecting our brains too. It’s pretty hot, you know. You got to hydrate a lot, — make sure you stay
— cool. Many are doing their best to stay cool, but even with Water and shade. The heat is wearing on people, yeah, especially if you’re getting hot and sweaty, like, you know, you can get irritable a lot easier. Hiker Josephine Criado says staying hydrated helps, but when the sun is blazing, patience can run thin, — and it
— can affect your mood, you know, depending on how you wake up and it gets a little hotter, but Just make sure you drink a lot of water, stay hydrated, show in the shade if you’re outside. It’s not just anecdotal. Dr. Anker Bendel, a local psychiatrist, says heat can impact brain chemistry. There is a direct and indirect correlation with increasing anger, violence, and impulsivity. That’s pretty huge. Dr. Bindle says Neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine help regulate mood, and heat stress can throw them off balance. A lot of times this heat wave can affect. These neurotransmitters in the brain that can increase the incidence of depression, anxiety, and psychotic disorders. Research shows it affects thinking too. A study from Indoor Air tested healthy people doing office work in Shanghai. Cognitive performance dropped up to 10%. Temps rose by just 7 degrees and in 28 US cities, warmer days led to a 9.4% increase in aggravated assaults and nearly 20% more homicides, according to the Journal of Criminal Justice. Taking care of yourself is paramount. Make sure that you’re keeping cool, keeping the hydration, drinking a lot of water, making sure you’re mostly indoors. So if you find yourself feeling more easily annoyed or even angry in this heat, experts say it’s not just in your head, it’s science. Brian White, CBSA.

Researchers say heatwaves can impact people’s mood, leading to higher irritability and even aggression.