How extreme heat can affect your mental health
Extreme heat can take a real toll on our bodies, physically and mentally. “I’ve been a Florida resident my entire life, and this is the hottest summer for sure,” said Central Florida resident Dante Marone.While many people still try to get outside and enjoy the outdoors, Dr. Vince Callahan warns of the potential harm this heat can have on not only your physical health but mental health, especially once your body exceeds its core temperature of 98 to 99 degrees.”You start seeing a decline in cognition, which is the person’s ability to learn. Their objectivity, critical thinking skills, planning, threat assessment. All of those things, which are part of the frontal lobe, begin to be impacted by the heat,” Callahan said.Callahan has been studying the brain at the doctoral level for 13 years.He says heat has been linked to a rise in violent crime, road rage, suicide rates and hospitalizations for mental disorders.”That core temperature begins to be raised, your processing begins to slow down in your brain, so to speak, and you don’t function as well as you normally would,” Callahan said.Marone says he notices how the heat makes him more irritable.”When it’s hot outside, you’ve been out in the heat for a while. I’m a little bit more irritable. I’m sweating. It’s dripping in my eyes,” Marone said.Callahan says it’s important to drink half of your body weight in ounces of water daily and add drinks with electrolytes.He also says if you are on medication, talk with your doctor to make sure the medication won’t be exacerbated by the heat.”Number three, really stay out of it as much as you can. Don’t be out unless you have to. If you do, go in small increments,” Callahan said. Top headlines: Deputies: Man shot, killed in Brevard County Deputies: 4 suspects arrested after woman kidnapped in Orange County FHP: 2 dead after motorcycle crashes into pickup truck in Brevard County
Extreme heat can take a real toll on our bodies, physically and mentally.
“I’ve been a Florida resident my entire life, and this is the hottest summer for sure,” said Central Florida resident Dante Marone.
While many people still try to get outside and enjoy the outdoors, Dr. Vince Callahan warns of the potential harm this heat can have on not only your physical health but mental health, especially once your body exceeds its core temperature of 98 to 99 degrees.
“You start seeing a decline in cognition, which is the person’s ability to learn. Their objectivity, critical thinking skills, planning, threat assessment. All of those things, which are part of the frontal lobe, begin to be impacted by the heat,” Callahan said.
Callahan has been studying the brain at the doctoral level for 13 years.
He says heat has been linked to a rise in violent crime, road rage, suicide rates and hospitalizations for mental disorders.
“That core temperature begins to be raised, your processing begins to slow down in your brain, so to speak, and you don’t function as well as you normally would,” Callahan said.
Marone says he notices how the heat makes him more irritable.
“When it’s hot outside, you’ve been out in the heat for a while. I’m a little bit more irritable. I’m sweating. It’s dripping in my eyes,” Marone said.
Callahan says it’s important to drink half of your body weight in ounces of water daily and add drinks with electrolytes.
He also says if you are on medication, talk with your doctor to make sure the medication won’t be exacerbated by the heat.
“Number three, really stay out of it as much as you can. Don’t be out unless you have to. If you do, go in small increments,” Callahan said.
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