Health impacts of extreme heatwaves

Research indicates that extreme heat during heatwaves significantly impacts physiological and psychological functions. High temperatures can impair cognitive abilities, such as mathematical problem-solving, and exacerbate mental health conditions like depression and anxiety. Heat also disrupts sleep by preventing the body from reaching ideal sleeping conditions, often causing night sweats and interrupting deep sleep cycles.

Regarding digestion, the body naturally suppresses appetite to avoid increasing internal heat through the process of digestion. Dr. Lucy Hooper, a general practitioner in London, notes that the brain sends chemical signals to limit hunger and redirects blood flow from the gastrointestinal system toward the skin to facilitate cooling through sweat. This redirection can slow digestion and cause nausea.

Recent scientific findings reinforce that decreased appetite serves as a natural biological mechanism to maintain thermal homeostasis. Beyond blood flow redirection, hormonal shifts involving leptin and insulin also play a role in suppressing hunger.

Certain populations are identified as more vulnerable to these effects, including children, the elderly, individuals with pre-existing cardiac or respiratory conditions, outdoor workers, and those using GLP-1 weight management medications.