The Devastating Mental Health Impact of Extreme Heat Caused by Climate Change

2023-07-21 12:06:08
The consequences of climate change, such as extreme heat, can produce responses ranging from anguish limited in time to severe anxiety, depression and suicidal tendencies (EFE/EPA/MASSIMO PERCOSSI)

Extreme heat is increasing rapidly in some parts of the world due to climate change. To cite a few examples, Italy recently reached 40°C in the center and south of its territory; in Spain and Greece they registered figures close to 45°C and in Iran, the International Airport of the Persian Gulf experienced a record heat of 66.7°C last Sunday.

It is less than two weeks since the planet recorded the hottest days in its modern history, and the unprecedented extreme heat wave is still affecting the northern hemisphere. These maximum temperatures have obvious effects on physical health, but experts are warning regarding their consequences on social interactions, personal well-being and that they might become a serious threat to mental stability.

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) pointed out that heat waves are very worrying due to their impacts on both human and animal health as well as the social and economic consequences, and they have multiplied by six since the 1980s.

Thus, scientists are engaged in investigating the complex interaction between extreme heat, its harmful effects on mental health and, most importantly, how to protect ourselves from this new threat to humanity.

According to the Climate Psychiatry Alliance, climate change is one of the most important threats to health worldwide, and the current and future effects on mental health are underestimated and little studied (REUTERS / Guglielmo Mangiapane)

Although heat is known to affect brain function, the exact mechanisms are poorly understood. Experts point to a multitude of interrelated psychological, social, and biological factors ranging from sleep disruption to heat-altered function of vital neurotransmitters and hormones.

Shabab Wahid, mental health specialist at the Department of Global Health at Georgetown University, USA; recently co-published a study in The Lancet Planetary Health demonstrating that a one degree rise in ambient temperature above the norm contributes to a greater likelihood of experiencing depression and anxiety.

While his research focused on Bangladesh, “this should serve as a warning to other nations,” the researcher stated, adding: “As climate change worsens, temperatures and humidity will continue to rise, as will natural disasters such as extreme flooding, which portend an increasing impact on our collective mental health globally.”

It is less than two weeks since the planet recorded the hottest days in its modern history, and the unprecedented extreme heat wave is still affecting the northern hemisphere.

Other study by Stanford economist Marshall Burke published in Nature Climate Change, found that a 1.8°F (1°C) increase in average temperature in the US and Mexico correlates with a 1% increase in suicides, translating to thousands of additional deaths each year.

According to the Climate Psychiatry Alliance, climate change is one of the most significant health risks worldwide, and the current and future effects on mental health are little studied.

This institution identifies five main areas where climate disruption and mental health intersect:

1. Impacts of major disasters

2. Psychological factors related to the threat of climate disruption

3. Environmental impacts

4. Social determinants and vulnerable population factors

5. Answers in Psychiatry

One study showed that a one-degree rise in room temperature above the norm contributes to a greater likelihood of experiencing depression and anxiety (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Climate change contributes to extreme events of heat waves, severe storms, floods, and wildfires. They are expected to increase and can be grouped into acute and chronic effects.

Within the acute impacts, the direct mental health effects of heat include:

– Increased aggression/conflict: One standard deviation of temperature rise leads to a 4% increase in interpersonal violence, especially intimate partner violence with a higher impact on women, and a 14% increase in group violence.

– Increased violence in the cities. Increases of 2 to 10 degrees due to “urban heat islands,” caused by asphalt and concrete structures and limited green space, can contribute to increased summer violence.

Increases of 2 to 10 degrees due to “urban heat islands” may contribute to the rise in summer violence in inner cities, say experts Photo: Christin Klose/dpa

– Increase in on-call consultation and hospitalization for patients with pre-existing psychiatric illnesses, during the heat wave.

– The death rate doubles during heat waves in patients with pre-existing psychiatric illnesses.

– Psychiatric medications (antipsychotics, anticholinergics, and antidepressants) affect the body’s heat-regulating functioning, and lithium affects fluid homeostasis.

– Suicide rates increase during extreme heat.

The consequences of climate change, involving severe storms, fires, and floods, can produce responses ranging from time-limited distress to severe anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and suicidality. They also produce an increase in interpersonal violence following the trauma of extreme weather events, with increased risk for women, and cause increased alcohol and drug abuse.

Another effect is solastalgia, a new term that recognizes existential pain and psychic anguish when one’s homeland has been impacted by environmental change EFE/Mariscal/Archivo

The discomfort caused by extreme temperatures, as well as the energy the body expends to stay cool, can lead to an overall drop in resilience. This makes it harder to bear the agitation, irritation and pain, experts say.

The emotional effects of heat and the consequences of climate change range from anxiety, depression and feelings of being overwhelmed to denial and avoidance, with implications for decision making. Also, it can produce solastalgia, a new term that recognizes existential pain and psychic anguish when one’s homeland has been impacted by environmental change.

Additionally, experts are investigating a variety of possible impacts on the psychological development of children growing up in a world exposed to existential threats.

Scientists are investigating the possible impacts on the psychological development of children growing up in a world that is suffering from the consequences of climate change (Getty)

Some scientists have hypothesized that the heat may cause an imbalance in signals to the brain or some inflammation. Another leading theory holds that interrupted sleep from heat might aggravate some mental health symptoms.

As the Mayo Clinic in the United States warns, difficulties falling or staying asleep at night can affect a person’s energy levels, impair quality of life, work or school performance – and physical and mental health.

Symptoms of insomnia include tiredness, daytime sleepiness, difficulty concentrating, dullness, and headaches. It can also be accompanied by changes in mood, such as moodiness, anxiety, depression, and irritability.

A leading theory holds that interrupted sleep from heat might aggravate some mental health symptoms

What happens if you sleep little? As expressed in a recent note in Infobae Facundo Nogueira (MN 84970), head of the Sleep Medicine section of the Hospital Clínicas of the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) and director of the UBA Sleep Medicine Fellowship, “Sleeping fewer hours does not give our brain time to recover from the daily grind and wear and tear.”

“What ends up happening is that attention span is progressively lost, intellectual performance decreases, the risk of arterial hypertension, arrhythmias, heart attacks, strokes, diabetes and other chronic diseases increases, and it has been shown that sleeping less than 6 or 7 hours increases the risk of dementia-type cognitive disorders,” the specialist warned, noting: “In fact, dementia or Alzheimer’s disease doubles in patients with chronic insomnia and sleep apnea. dream”.

Scientists point to the causes of the impact of heat on mental health from the interruption of sleep to the altered function of neurotransmitters and vital hormones (REUTERS / Guglielmo Mangiapane)

Heat also affects the neurotransmitter serotonin, one of the most important mood regulators, closely related to keeping aggression under control. Serotonin helps relay information regarding skin temperature to the brain’s hypothalamus, which goes on to control shivering and sweating responses when necessary.

Dr. Alejandro Andersson, neurologist and medical director of the Buenos Aires Institute of Neurology (INBA), described to Infobae that serotonin is a neurotransmitter associated with mood, sleep, anxiety and emotional regulation: “It plays an important role in promoting feelings of happiness, calm and general well-being. Adequate levels of serotonin are related to an improvement in mood and a reduction in depression.

Scientists continue to investigate the possible causes that affect the brain at high temperatures. In any case, according to the experts, it is clear that extreme heat has some relationship with worse mental health and it will be necessary to take preventive measures as soon as possible.

Keep reading:

Can high temperatures and humidity affect mental health? Red alert for heat: what are the health risks and who should be especially careful The 10 health consequences of extreme heat for more than 15 consecutive days
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