Summer is around the corner, and with it, hot weather. Some students look forward to warm days. However, changes in weather can cause a change in moods and emotions.
According to Healthline, people living in mild climates, climates with an average of 50-70 degree weather, have shown to be more socially and emotionally stable than those who live in extreme climate regions, hot or cold. Warm climates can increase memory, open mindedness, and improve feelings of detachment from life, especially for people with disorders like ADHD.
Even though most humans love the nice, warm weather of spring, there are risks that come with it. According to Oxford University, when the seasons change from cold winter to warm spring, more impulsive shopping tendencies are adapted.
Further more, though scientists are not sure why, a connection between the change into warm weather and suicide attempts is precedented.
One theory says that because of more sunlight exposure, there can be a change in neurotransmitters in the brain that cause suicidal thoughts. Another theory explains that rising temperatures could cause a mood episode, which is particularly bad for those who have bipolar disorder. A third theory states that mental health can worsen due to the increase of pollen, which can inflame the brain.
During the winter months, humans have less energy than they would in the spring or summer. There are “hibernation” signals that the brain sends out during winter, causing this lack of energy. The lack of sunlight also has an effect on feelings of depression in the wintertime.
The body’s internal circadian clock is affected during winter because there is less sunlight. The cloudy days that may come with cold weather can cause a person to feel less awake and out of it.
According to Healthline, stress can be caused by rainy days. The superior vestibular nucleus (SVN) controls perception and balance, so it senses when the air pressure lowers in the atmosphere. Studies say that the activation of SVN during times of lowered atmospheric pressure can cause stress as well.
Meteoropathy, a disorder that is more commonly known as weather pains, can cause feelings of irritability, difficulty concentrating, insomnia, migraines, and resurfacing pain in places of old injuries and scars.
Seasonal depression can include symptoms of fatigue, sadness, and increased appetite, but these symptoms go away once the weather warms up. According to an Eastern European study of over 7000 people, major depression occurs most prominently during the months of November and December.
Higher temperatures have also been associated with heightened stress levels. When temperatures rise above 70 degrees, people can become more irritable, agitated, anxious, aggressive, and develop a poor appetite.
Based on a research study conducted by the National Library of Medicine, rising temperatures of climate change can be connected to an increase of violence all over the world. This violence, such as riots, homicide, and assault, can stem from the rise of stress, anger, and spontaneity during the summer months.
Heat can cause less sleep at night, which can lead to malfunctions in the parts of the brain responsible for decision making, cognitive thinking, and problem solving. Research conducted by the National Library of Medicine shares that air temperature can directly affect sleeping quantity and quality. When the recommended hours of sleep are not met, there is a chemical imbalance of the hormones in the brain. This imbalance can cause cortisol, a stress hormone, to increase.
Whether it be that the temperature is cold, warm, or hot, there are associated risks and effects. Being cognizant of these effects can help people be prepared.
