How does extreme heat affect the human brain?

As the temperature around us changes what we feel through the nerve endings on our skin is either warm or cold. But what goes on in the human body that helps us feel that way is far more complex than one can imagine.

The human body’s optimal temperature is 98.5 degrees Fahrenheit or 36.9 degrees Celsius. An extreme imbalance, either way, can lead to the failure of bodily functions as the body cannot cope. 

According to The Guardian, studies have shown that extreme heat can direct your mental capabilities. Furthermore, these irregularities impact decision making resulting in errors, and more prone to injuries. A study suggests that people feel more irritable during a hot day.

Additionally, there are more emergency calls in the hospital due to mental health disorders. Even, rising suicide rates have been linked with increasing temperatures.

A tiny structure buried deep inside our brain, known as the hypothalamus. That organ is responsible for maintaining the stable state of the human body i.e. homeostasis. Whenever we experience a change in temperature, the organ regulates our response to it.

Heatstroke

Under abnormally high temperatures, when the body cannot cope by the same mechanism. Hence, we feel exhausted and have a sense of extreme dehydration due to the loss of water through the sweat glands. A person can suffer from heatstroke when the body temperature reaches 104 degrees Fahrenheit or 40 degrees Celsius. The body loses neural functions and this results in organ failure.

Heatstroke can be either active, mostly seen in athletes and sports persons working out in the heat, or passive, mostly in people whose body is at rest, like the elderly. 

When our body is exposed to extreme heat, the heat is dispersed through the sweat glands which have a resultant cooling effect on the body to help secure its homeostasis. The hypothalamus slows down the secondary organs and focuses on the energy needs of the heart and the lungs in such a situation.

In extremely severe cases, this can turn out to be counter-productive and even damage the other organs permanently.

Fainting

Due to malfunctioning of the heart, reduced blood flow to the brain can be commonly seen as fainting, which can often be observed in the case of heatstroke. There exists a barrier between the brain and the bloodstream that strategically only allows oxygen and vital nutrients to pass through, which the brain needs. This barrier becomes inoperative when the body reaches 40 degrees Celsius.

Unwanted proteins and ions start to enter the brain causing inflammation and reduced function.

Cell death

Cell death can occur in several parts of the body beginning with the most susceptible parts of the body. A crucial part of the brain, is the cerebellum, is directly connected to the spinal cord and controls motor functions in the body. In addition, it holds more than half of the neurons in the whole human body, is where cell deaths first occur.

This can result in weaker signals to the body, or no signals at all, ceasing most motor functions and leaving the body impaired.

Conclusion

So, next time you venture out in the extreme heat of the sun, then, be cautious about your health, and keep yourself hydrated.

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