When the Heat Messes With Your Mind

Illustration by The Epoch Times

As heat waves roll across the continent, some of us struggle more than others.

Our house has one small air conditioner and we rarely need it because we sleep downstairs where it stays cool. And if it gets too hot, we used to just sleep outside in the RV. That old motorhome had lots of windows and with a fan on, it would cool down nicely at night.

But this summer, we decided to sell the RV because we only ever slept in it in our yard. Unfortunately, I forgot that when it gets too hot, I can’t sleep.

Apparently, I am not the only one with this problem.

“Heat exposure during sleep can lead to sleep disruption,” notes a review published in the Journal of Sleep Research.

Reviews are special research articles that build on previous research by looking for patterns or connections between existing research. That study, “How to deal with sleep problems during heatwaves: practical recommendations from the European Insomnia Network,” noted that heatwaves are closely linked to an increase in mental disorders.

“Disrupted sleep has been suggested as one of the factors contributing to the vulnerability of those with psychiatric conditions to suffer more from their symptoms during heatwaves,” the authors noted. These, according to one of the source studies, can range from dementia to depression.

Those struggling with stress, depression, anxiety, or other mental health issues may already face trouble sleeping. And if sleep becomes more difficult during a heat wave, those conditions could worsen.

I don’t have a psychiatric disorder or health issues but I can certainly relate. After not sleeping well for almost a week now, I’ve started having difficulties concentrating and feel a distinct lack of energy and motivation.

Besides the obvious advice—keep your bedroom cool, preferably a steady 66 F (19 C)—the researchers offered some great suggestions:

• Take a lukewarm bath, foot bath, or shower before bed.
• Use an electric fan to cool your bed area.
• If you use an air conditioner, keep it between 63–66 F (17–19 C).
• Mist your body with water to cool quickly if you wake up during the night.
• Stay hydrated throughout the day.
• If it cools down at night, open up your windows to ventilate your home.
• Maintain your regular sleep schedule so you don’t throw off your circadian rhythm.
• Take short naps if needed, ideally around 20 minutes before 2:00 p.m.

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