How heat can impact your mood
Cleveland Clinic's Dr. Susan Albers discusses how extreme heat can affect your mood and physical well-being, as well as tips to stay cool in the summer heat.
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00:00Studies indicate that excessive heat triggers feelings of anxiety, agitation, irritation,
00:07and cognitive difficulties. Summer is a time for fun outdoor activities like swimming, boating,
00:12and sports, but it is also a time for heat. And when outdoors in extreme temperatures,
00:17our bodies are forced to work harder to keep us cool, and that can cause a release of cortisol,
00:22our body's main stress hormone. Dr. Susan Albers of the Cleveland Clinic says that can trigger a
00:26variety of responses, including disrupting sleep, which can make us more irritable and make it
00:32harder to focus in general. It can also lead to more extreme responses. During heat waves,
00:37we see an increase of suicides, substance use, domestic violence, and emergency room visits due
00:44to mental health issues. The heat doesn't cause mental health issues, but it does exacerbate
00:50many of the symptoms that people experience. The best way to combat these issues is by drinking
00:55plenty of water. Eating foods with high water content can be helpful as well. Foods like
00:59cantaloupe, strawberries, watermelon, and grapes. Staying out of the heat is the best way to avoid
01:04heat-related problems. You can do this by staying indoors. Don't go out between the hours of 10 and
01:104, the hottest part of the day. If you don't have air conditioning, you can go to the library,
01:16walk around a shopping mall. Dr. Albers says be sure to keep an eye on signs of heat exhaustion
01:20as well. They can include heavy sweating, dizziness, fatigue, headache, fast heartbeat,
01:25swelling in the hands and feet, and low blood pressure when you stand up.
01:29For AccuWeather, I'm meteorologist Tony Laubach.