Hotheads: do mental illnesses worsen in summer
The long-awaited warmth does not bring joy to everyone if the air temperature exceeds the climatic norm. Heat can cause irritability and even affect mental processes. Thus, the heat affects the nervous system. How to weaken negative processes, why it is necessary to avoid oxygen starvation and what foods to include in the diet in order to maintain health when even asphalt melts — in the Izvestia material.
Temperature record
Denis Prokofiev, a general practitioner with the status of "Moscow Doctor", notes that our body has good thermal protection and is able to adapt to any weather due to various thermoregulation processes.
— For example, when a person is hot, sweating begins, which cools the body. And when it's cold, goosebumps seem to run through the body — this turns on the internal heating, which stimulates the work of small muscles and activates blood circulation," says Prokofiev.
But much, the doctor emphasizes, depends on the region in which a person lives. If the temperature conditions go beyond the climatic norms of a particular area, then, of course, the body begins to experience stress.
According to Dr. Prokofiev, when it gets hot outside, the main problem is that there is very little oxygen in the air. And then comes a phenomenon called hypoxia, that is, a lack of oxygen in the body.
"Oxygen is necessary for the normal functioning of the brain and internal organs,— comments Prokofiev. — Therefore, the first danger that negatively affects the nervous system during heat is hypoxia of the brain. Symptoms include general fatigue, drowsiness, impaired mental processes, and sleep problems.
Dr. Prokofiev emphasizes the importance of preventing the development of hypoxia. You should consult a doctor for advice. Specialists will prescribe the necessary medications or recommend devices that allow you to breathe saturated air through oxygen therapy.
— If a person has an addiction to nicotine, it is better to refrain from smoking during the heat. Otherwise, in addition to the hypoxia that you already have to experience due to a decrease in oxygen levels in the air, other effects of oxygen starvation will appear. And all this can lead to loss of consciousness," the expert warns.
Does heat affect the psyche
Heat causes "heat stress," a condition in which the body spends a lot of energy cooling down, says Olga Chistik, a therapist at the Scandinavian Health Center.
"To conserve energy, the brain switches to resource—saving mode," the specialist comments. — Blood flow decreases, thermoregulation is disrupted, the body loses water and important electrolytes — potassium and magnesium. Without them, nerve cells (neurons) that transmit signals between parts of the brain and the body work less efficiently.
As a result, the levels of the "pleasure hormones" serotonin and dopamine are falling, while the "stress hormones" adrenaline and cortisol, on the contrary, are rising, the expert notes. This can cause irritability, anxiety, lethargy, and decreased concentration.
According to Olga Chistik, the heat worsens sleep at night, because even at temperatures above 22 ° C, the process of falling asleep is disrupted and the deep sleep phase is shortened. Lack of sleep also increases cortisol levels, which increases nervousness and fatigue the next day.
But hot weather does not affect the exacerbation of mental illness, says psychiatrist and psychotherapist Alexei Vilkov. In this regard, the change of seasons is much more significant. Patients feel uncomfortable when solar activity changes in terms of the transition from summer to autumn or from winter to spring. And it doesn't matter what the temperature outside is. However, patients with mental illnesses, as well as healthy people, have reduced physical activity.
— A person may experience weakness, lethargy, indifference, loss of strength or severe drowsiness. But the heat does not cause increased anxiety," the psychiatrist comments.
What not to do in the summer
Denis Prokofiev once again emphasizes that the most vulnerable part of the body, suffering from strong sunlight and heat, is the head.
— In no case should we allow overheating of the brain. Therefore, be sure to wear a hat, and avoid exposure to sunlight during the most active peak — from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. If necessary, use various techniques aimed at reducing the temperature in the head area," Prokofiev continues.
A cooling effect will be produced, for example, by a towel soaked in cold water, or by a special gel thermal plaster.
Olga Chistik warns that with a mild form of overheating, headaches, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, and muscle cramps appear.
— If the body temperature exceeds 40 ° C, then heat stroke develops. His symptoms include confusion, agitation or apathy, dilated pupils, and seizures. This is a dangerous condition that requires medical attention, the therapist warns.
According to Chistik, the elderly, children, pregnant women, and people with cardiovascular and endocrine diseases show increased sensitivity to heat. Their thermoregulation mechanism is disrupted. In people with multiple sclerosis, even a slight increase in temperature can worsen the symptoms.
— Sedatives, psychotropic drugs and stimulants are not recommended without a doctor's prescription, — warns Olga Chistik. — It is better to replenish lost substances: drink water with salts, eat foods with magnesium and B vitamins. This will help to safely support the nervous system in the heat.
The therapist recommends building a diet on light foods in the heat: vegetables, fruits, low-fat fish, and cold soups. Fried and sugary drinks should be avoided. You should drink often and a little, including regular or mineral water, as well as unsweetened compotes. When sweating heavily, electrolytes and rehydration solutions are useful.
Dr. Prokofiev recommends strengthening the drinking regime, avoiding areas exposed to sunlight as much as possible, and staying in a cool room for longer. Then the body will be able to recover and continue the processes of thermoregulation.
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