2023-07-17 04:08:56
16/07/2023
The Earth is burning and the sun does not give in the world. This weekend it became known that in some cities in the United States such as Phoenix the temperature might reach 47° C and, last week, in a study by the journal Nature Medicine, it was learned that 61,000 people over the age of 80 died in Europe from the intense heat of last year.
On July 4 of this year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported that it was the hottest day in history with a record temperature of 17.18° C. Medellín is not spared: during these months with the El Niño phenomenon It has reached temperatures of 31°C.
The concern has focused on taking care of physical health, to prevent some risks such as heat stroke, which can be lethal.
The recommendations are: hydrate properly, turn on the fan or open the windows in closed places, wear hats, umbrellas, glasses, use sunscreen and body creams.
However, on hot days the body is not the only one to pay attention to. Also to the mind. Take care of your mental health these days when the heat can be unbearable.
Does the heat cause you stress, anxiety or anguish? If you feel irritated on hot days, there is a scientific reason. There is a relationship, say specialists, between the state of mind of the human being and the environment in which he is.
Hot flashes and mental health
Warm climates are known to invite movement and activity. There is a lot of energy. You can go for a run, to the beach, to enjoy. It is different with the cold days that are associated with stillness and emotions such as sadness.
While this is true—and tropical countries, for example, are happier—extremely hot days are associated with emotions that can be difficult to manage at that time.
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According to the European Climate and Health Observatory, high temperatures, for example during heat waves, are associated with mood and behavioral disorders such as aggression, anger, anxiety, stress and psychotic attacks.
According to Rodrigo Mazo Zea, a psychologist and teacher at the UPB Faculty of Psychology, he explained that the weather affects emotional balance. “They are associated with more action, more impulsive reactions. For example, anger, emotionality or reactivity in the face of difficult situations are associated with these hot times.
Also, there is evidence of an increase in cases of suicide and delinquency. A study by the National Library of Medicine published in 2018, inquired regarding the increase in crime in these hot seasons and found that there is an increase —although not significant— in this type of criminal behavior on the hottest days.
These behaviors and emotions are more likely in people who have pre-existing mental illnesses because the symptoms can be exacerbated.
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In research published in Science Direct, where the relationship between hot days and poor mental health outcomes was analyzed, it was found that for every degree that temperatures rise, mortality from mental health grows by 2.2%, and another study 2022 points to heat waves increasing emergency visits related to mental health.
It doesn’t mean it’s like that for everyone. They are specific cases and this is explained by Mazo Zea, saying that these reactions depend on the personality and sensitivity to the climate of each human being.
In psychology, there is a name to name for the disease where the mind and the climate are involved, causing a state of mind different from that of everyday life.
“Within the new classifications of mental illnesses, there is seasonal affective disorder, that is, manifestations of emotional affectation due to changes in the weather. This condition occurs mainly in seasonal countries,” he added. Rodrigo Mazo Zea.
Seasonal affective disorder, according to the Mayo Clinic, is a type of depression that is more frequent in winter seasons as it is associated with cold climates. Symptoms such as sadness and nostalgia begin in autumn and winter and disappear in summer.
For Jorge Mario Rubio, professor at the Faculty of Social and Human Sciences at the University of Antioquia, the weather is one of the variables by which mental health might be affected. For example, in the cold people may feel sad or depressed and in the heat they may be more impulsive and have energy for various activities.
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“In seasonal countries, where there are fewer daylight hours in winter, people may be affected. We are photosensitive and have hormones that are activated by sunlight. This might generate depressive episodes.”
Beware of the heat…
Excessive heat might lead to heat anxiety. Some of its symptoms are restlessness, nervousness, difficulty concentrating and sleeping, palpitations, sweating, and difficulty breathing.
What to do to take care of mental health in those moments when the heat is unbearable? If you are sensitive to the weather and your mental health might be affected, you should take care of it as well as your body.
Also read: The hottest day in history has passed and scientists warn that there will be another record
Drink enough water to stay hydrated so you don’t feel irritated or tired; look for cool spaces, if you do physical activity, do it in the coolest hours, practice relaxation techniques through conscious breathing, meditation or yoga to calm the emotions you may feel due to the heat and dress in light and breathable clothing.
Hot days invite you to move and are associated with happy emotions. However, you also have to pay attention to mental health these days. You now know that your irritability, stress, or anger might be due to the heat.
And get ready because the El Niño Phenomenon might last until February of next year.
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