Every year, the Spanish Neurology Society (SEN) reminds us that we must follow some basic guidelines to take care of ourselves during this time. And it is that our brain feels terrible in the summer, at least if we live in a country with high temperatures like ours.
The main reason is that heat interferes with the activity of the hypothalamus , a very important part of our thinking organ that, among many other functions, is responsible for regulating our body temperature . As can be expected, this effect has other more or less dramatic consequences, among them that we sleep considerably worse than in winter.
In addition, above 30 ° C the nerve impulse slows down , causing tiredness and fatigue. As a result of all this we could say that we are to drag, we do not perform well and we are more dangerous at the wheel due to drowsiness.
On the other hand, it seems that seasonality affects our nervous system more than we thought, as suggested by a study published in PNAS at the beginning of the year, which showed differences in the brain activity of the participants depending on the time in which MRI images were taken.
Worse for the mentally ill
While people without neurological problems cope with the heat with more or less dignity, migraine sufferers may notice their symptoms worsen, as high temperatures and thermal contrasts from air conditioners trigger headaches.
Those who take some type of medication, such as patients with epilepsy, must drink sufficient amounts of fluids to avoid altering the body’s water balance, as this in turn affects the amount of drugs in the blood. According to the experts of the SEN, during the summer it is very common for patients to go to their doctor alarmed, thinking that their disease has worsened, when it is simply an effect of high temperatures.
Recommendation: common sense
What to do to protect our brain from heat ? It is enough to follow the general recommendations that are given for the summer : avoid doing intense exercise and being on the street in the central hours, drink plenty of fluids, follow the Mediterranean diet and consume food with a lot of water, wear breathable clothing, etc.
With a little common sense we will be able to prevent our nervous system from suffering the ravages of summer.
Sources: “Rethinking the brain” (Antonio Rial) and PNAS magazine.
