With the immense heat, people often find themselves searching for icy refreshments, shade under a tree, and even a momentary gust of air from a fan to find relief. Beyond the obvious physical discomfort, many people find the heat irritating, experiencing frequent headaches and tiredness. However, something even more profound can occur as an indirect effect of heatwaves.
Recently, Dr. Madhukar Bhardwaj, Director and HOD of Neurology at Aakash Healthcare, explained this connection: “Heatwaves do not just affect our body on the outside; they can also affect our brain and how we feel. When it gets really hot, some people can get headaches, feel exhausted, confused, or even angry. When we do not have enough water in our bodies, it can affect how our brain works. Sometimes people feel tired, confused, or irritable, but they think it is just because of work stress.” This indicates that random head pains, a short temper, and sudden confusion may actually be triggered by these intense heatwaves.
Explaining further, he said, “It could be because of the heat. Older people, kids, and people who already have brain or mental health issues are more likely to have problems when it’s hot for a long time. If we are in the heat for long, it can also affect our sleep, and that can make us feel bad and have trouble thinking clearly. To feel better, we should drink water regularly, stay out of the heat, and eat a balanced diet. This can help reduce the stress that heatwaves can cause.”
This evidence indicates that our brain is suffering not only physically but also mentally; our mental health is seemingly being affected unknowingly.
Dr. Minakshi Manchanda, Associate Director of Psychiatry at Asian Hospital, agreed: “When we think about heatwaves, we usually think about dehydration or heatstroke. But really hot weather can also affect our mental health. When it is very hot, our body temperature rises. That affects our mood, sleep, and how we feel. I see a lot of people who get irritable, anxious, and tired when it is hot.” This means that along with the sweat, the heat takes a distinct toll on our mental health.
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She added, “They also have trouble sleeping because of the heat. That makes them even more stressed and emotional. People who already have depression, anxiety, or other mental health issues might feel worse when it is very hot. The heat can also make it hard to focus and be productive for people who have to travel a lot or work in crowded places. So it is really important to drink a lot of water, sleep well, and stay out of the heat, especially in the afternoon. This helps keep us safe and feeling good, not just physically but also mentally.”
Next time you feel mentally tired or observe your mood spoiling without any apparent reason, it may simply be because your brain is resisting the heat but is seemingly not finding any success. Accordingly, make sure to take the necessary measures to avoid exposing your brain to excess heat.