July 3, 2024 – Climate change is hitting us hard, even when we don't notice it. It could also be what you see right outside your window, or it might be things your body is reacting to you can't see. And a lot of us are finally realizing the results: 64% of Americans say they’re concerned about climate change, and one in ten report symptoms of hysteria or depression as a consequence of climate change, prompting some to hunt help.
But even in case you haven't experienced the trauma of a wildfire or hurricane, or had sleepless nights worrying in regards to the way forward for the climate, research suggests that climate change could possibly be affecting your mental health and well-being in other, less obvious ways.
Heat waves and mud storms could cause Irritability and aggressivenessAir pollution is related to depression And psychotic disordersAnd rising levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) can impair our ability to think.
Climate change is “really an experiment that humanity is conducting on itself,” said Michael RanneyPhD, a cognitive psychologist on the University of California, Berkeley.
According to NASA, last summer was the hottest since global records began in 1880. Now we could also be within the midst of another record breakerSo now could be a very good time to learn in regards to the potential mental health consequences of maximum heat – in addition to air pollution and high CO2 levels – and methods to protect yourself.
Hot enough to spoil your mood
A Study 2022 showed that on extremely hot days, more people visit hospital emergency departments for mental health problems corresponding to anxiety, schizophrenia, self-harm and behavioural problems in children. Suicide rates increase during heatwaves. A recent Meta-analysis suggested that for every 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit As local temperatures rise, the suicide rate increases by 1%.
Heat waves may also make us more irritable and violent. In the nineteenth century, the Belgian astronomer Adolphe Quetel noticed that at any time when there was heat in France, violent crime increased.
Today, there are dozens of studies linking heat to murders and assaults, said Craig AndersonPhD, psychologist at Iowa State University. Study 2023 of Chicago linked extreme heat waves to a rise in crime. In a 6-year study of about 4 billion tweets on Þjórsárdennow called X, the variety of hate messages increased with extreme temperatures.
And it shouldn’t be only humans who react aggressively and restlessly in extreme heat. Dogs are likely to bite more on hot, sunny days, while other species, from Magpies To Bumblebeesturn into confused and performance poorly.
Admittedly, most research on extreme heat and mental health examines the connection between, for instance, weather data and crime statistics, but they can’t prove cause-and-effect relationships. Experimental studies are few. In one study, law enforcement officials who trained in an uncomfortably hot room were more prone to draw and fire their weapons than their colleagues who train in cooler temperatures.
Such studies are complicated and expensive and may be unethical. Anderson said. Nobody wants to show volunteers to extreme heat, give them weapons and wait to see what happens.
But certain physiological mechanisms provide a biological basis for emotional changes in the warmth. On the one hand, we are likely to sleep worse when the mercury is high, and “sleep is very closely linked to mental health outcomes,” said Emma LawrencePhD, clinical neuroscientist on the Imperial College London. A Review 2021 Restless nights result in more frequent bad moods, increased irritability and a worsening of mental illnesses corresponding to schizophrenia.
Various hormones could also play a job. In general, heat waves mean higher air concentrations of ozonea molecule that causes the discharge of stress hormones Cortisol And adrenaline. High temperatures can affect other mood-related neurotransmitters corresponding to serotonin and dopamine. Finnish scientists found that as temperatures rise and crime rates rise, changes within the serotonin system also occur in offenders, possibly resulting in increased impulsivity.
What to do:
Protect yourself from the warmth, especially at night, Lawrance said. scientifically based Options include taking a lukewarm or cool (but not cold) shower to advertise sleep—or a minimum of soaking your feet in lukewarm water. Wearing cotton pajamas and avoiding alcohol before bed may also help. And staying hydrated in the course of the day can assist your body regulate its temperature higher at night.
Be mindful of your irritability during heat waves. “Be aware that your mood and thinking may be affected, and be gentle with yourself and your loved ones,” Lawrance said.
Note that some medications for mental illness – corresponding to tricyclic antidepressants And Psychotropic medications – “can interfere with the body's ability to regulate temperature,” Lawrance said, which could potentially worsen the consequences of the warmth. “While it's very, very important that people continue to take their medications, it's very important that people also have the right information about how to protect themselves,” Lawrance said. In other words, refer to your doctor.
Brain pollution
Climate change can affect air quality, which in turn can impact mental health. Sandstormsblown away by the wind Dust as a consequence of droughtand forest fire smoke contribute to the unhealthy soup of pollutants we breathe, including high-quality dust particles, also often called PM 2.5, and Nitrogen dioxide (NO2).
A 2023 study analyzed hospital admissions for psychiatric disorders in eight US states – Arizona, Maryland, Michigan, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, Rhode Island and Washington – found that the more NO2 and PM 2.5 were within the air, the more people visited emergency rooms with anxiety, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Air pollution can be linked to depression and lower mental Performance. Research suggests that this may result in unethical behavior, corresponding to cheat on tests.
When pollutants like PM 2.5 enter our bodies, they cause oxidative stress and inflammationcan kill brain cells. Several studies have shown that air pollution is connected with Damage to certain brain regions corresponding to the amygdala, the fear center of the brain, and the hippocampusa seahorse-shaped area that’s involved in the event of depression.
What to do:
If you’re concerned, you may check with the Environmental Protection Agency. AirNow site for current air quality information. When air quality is poor, corresponding to during forest fires, keep windows closed and stay inside in case you can.
“When [you’re] When outdoors in intense wildfire smoke, it is best to wear a well-fitting N95 or KN95 mask, which filters out most of the PM 2.5,” said Paul WennbergPhD, atmospheric chemist at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. Indoors, you can use a portable air purifier or a high-efficiency HVAC filter. (No air purifier? You can make a DIY version with Instructions on the EPA website.) On days with high levels of air pollution, avoid deteriorating indoor air: avoid toasting bread, frying food and lighting candles.
Extreme weather events such as hurricanes can also cause brain-damaging pollutants to be released into our drinking water and the soil in which we grow our food. Hurricane Harvey The soils around Houston are contaminated with heavy metals such as lead, while Hurricane Maria several pesticides and arsenic added Puerto Rico's drinking water.
Lead has long been associated with cognitive problems – from lower IQ To Depression and maniaOther heavy metals such as cadmium are associated with mental disorders. As such, Drinking bottled water is recommended after hurricanes.
Cognitive effects of high CO2
Climate change is clearly evident in rising carbon dioxide levels. What is less obvious, however, is how the increase in CO2 can affect our ability to think.
“This is one other indirect reason to not burn fossil fuels,” said Ranney. The CO2 concentration within the atmosphere has already fallen from about 280 pages/min. in pre-industrial times (mid-18th century) to 419 ppm in 2023. At this rate, it could greater than double by 2100 and 900ppm.
Laboratory experiments show that such high doses of CO2 can affect how sure, we predictA study found that Decision making suffered when exposed to 1,000 ppm CO2 – they were less flexible in solving problems and had difficulty using information to make a decision. another, For example, an increase in CO2 levels of 400 ppm was associated with a 21% decrease in cognitive functions (the ability to learn, think and reason).
As Ranney points out, the test subjects are exposed to high levels of CO2 for short periods of time – say a few hours. “If that may affect cognitive performance, imagine what it's like once you never have a rest break,” he said.
Ranney suspects that human perception may already be impaired by the increased CO2 content in the atmosphere. And the higher the CO2 levels outside, the more difficult it is to keep the air fresh inside. CO2 can climb easily over 1,000 ppm.
What to do:
Although we cannot simply filter CO2 out of the air, we can try to keep the concentration indoors as low as possible.
Use a carbon dioxide monitor and if the values over 1,000 ppmopen the windows if the air quality is not bad that day. Avoid Use of non-ventilated or poorly ventilated fuel appliances such as gas stoves or space heaters. Some studies have also suggest that potted plants can help reduce CO2 levels in the home, especially if provided with plenty of light.
While these tips can help you protect yourself, what we really need is urgent action on climate change, according to Lawrance. “Creating a cleaner world is … a lot better for our mental health,” she said.