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Your support makes all the difference.<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nread more<\/span><\/svg><\/span><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nThe UK is expected to experience its first heatwave of the year, with temperatures expected to reach the mid-30s, meaning the usual excitement for sunshine may be overshadowed by underlying concerns. <\/p>\n
Beyond the immediate physical discomfort and fatigue, this intense heat is increasingly impacting our mental health and overall mood. <\/p>\n
To understand the psychological effects of long-term high temperatures and explore strategies to maintain balance, The Independent spoke to practicing psychologist Dr Ravi Gill.<\/p>\n
Do heat waves affect our mood?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\nPhysiological changes in the body and brain due to heat can have a significant impact on mood during a heat wave. “Heat disrupts neurotransmitter systems (serotonin), disrupts sleep, and increases stress hormones such as cortisol, which are important regulators of mood and impulse control,” says Gill.<\/p>\n
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Heat disrupts the neurotransmitter system (serotonin), disrupts sleep, and increases stress hormones. (Alamy\/Pennsylvania)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nPsychologists say the physical discomfort and sleep disturbances caused by heatwaves can also exacerbate mood swings, causing spikes in anxiety and worsening irritability.<\/p>\n
“Prolonged discomfort and environmental stress can strain your emotional resilience, making even the slightest stimulation feel overwhelming,” Gill adds. \u201cHeatwaves can also increase social tensions in homes, transport, and public spaces, turning small triggers into conflicts.\u201d<\/p>\n
Research also suggests that people with pre-existing mental health conditions are more vulnerable during heatwaves.<\/p>\n
“Conditions such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia can make it difficult to recognize the early signs of heat stress and take action. Additionally, some psychiatric medications (such as antipsychotics, certain antidepressants, and mood stabilizers) reduce the body’s ability to sweat and regulate temperature, increasing the risk of heat exhaustion and heat stroke,” notes Dr. Gill.<\/p>\n
How does heat-related sleep disturbance affect our mood and mind?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n“Higher nighttime temperatures make it harder for your core body temperature to cool down, which is essential for initiating and maintaining deep, restorative sleep,” says Gill. “People wake up frequently, especially during REM sleep, which is essential for emotional processing and memory consolidation. Difficulty falling and staying asleep reduces overall rest.”<\/p>\n
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Nighttime temperatures make it difficult for your core body temperature to drop. (Alamy\/Pennsylvania)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nThis can have a huge impact on our emotional control.<\/p>\n
“Sleep deprivation reduces activity in the prefrontal cortex (which is responsible for impulse control) and increases reactivity in the amygdala (associated with fear, anger, and anxiety), which makes us more emotionally unstable,” Gill explains. \u201cLack of REM sleep amplifies stress responses and reduces resilience to everyday frustrations.<\/p>\n
\u201cFurthermore, sleep deprivation impairs attention, working memory, decision-making and problem-solving skills, and increases mental fatigue.\u201d<\/p>\n
How can heatwaves affect cognitive functions such as memory, concentration, and decision-making? <\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n“Heatwaves can affect and impair core cognitive functions such as memory, concentration and decision-making, due to a combination of direct effects on the brain and secondary factors such as dehydration and sleep disturbances,” Gill says.<\/p>\n
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Heatwaves can affect and impair core cognitive functions such as memory. (Alamy\/Pennsylvania)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nReduced cerebral blood flow, neurotransmitter disruption, and electrolyte imbalance are just some of the factors that can significantly impact our cognitive function during heat waves.<\/p>\n
“Higher temperatures cause blood vessels to dilate, diverting blood to the skin for cooling, and can reduce blood flow and oxygen supply to the thinking centers of the brain, particularly the prefrontal cortex,” Gill explains. \u201cOn the other hand, heat stress also changes the balance of dopamine, serotonin, and acetylcholine, which are important for attention, learning, and memory.<\/p>\n
“Sweating also depletes sodium, potassium, and other electrolytes, which affects nerve signaling and slows mental processing.”<\/p>\n