How heat can impact your mood

AccuWeather

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.

Transcript

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.

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