Studies have found that for every 1℃ the average monthly temperature rises, death rates related to mental health will increase by 2.2%. When temperatures rise by 1℃ to 2℃, violent incidents will also increase by 3% to 5%. According to such calculations, by 2090, criminal acts due to climate change will spike by 5% globally².

These phenomena are not unrelated to ‘emotional heatstroke’. Medically speaking, ‘emotional heatstroke’ is also known as ‘Summer Seasonal Affective Disorder’, patients are susceptible to high temperatures which affect the central nervous system that regulates emotions in the hypothalamus within the brain, making them prone to symptoms such as agitation, anger, loss of temper and frustration³. According to expert studies, on average about 16% of people will experience ‘emotional heatstroke’ during summer, especially when the mercury rises above 35℃, the length of day exceeds 12 hours, or humidity levels go above 80%⁴. 

Three tips to avoid ‘emotional heatstroke’ in hot weather

Temperatures might be hard to control, but you can actually maintain a positive outlook through changing lifestyle habits or the environment. Taste, crowded environment and noise are three key triggers for ‘emotional heatstrokes’⁴, so here are three suggestions to help you combat the heat effectively:

1.  A clean and healthy diet
Eat flavour-rich, oily and fried food less and eat more flavour-less and water-rich food and vegetable that can take the heat away and  increase appetite. Also, as water can help regulate body temperatures, do remember to drink water frequently, and drink beverages that can cool the body, such as chrysanthemum tea or honeysuckle beverage.

2.   A comfortable environment
A still heart makes for a cool body. To keep your mind peaceful and joyful in a hot weather, a comfortable environment is critical. Therefore, avoid going outdoors during the hottest time of the day, pick the early hours or evening time to exercise outdoors. Avoid crowded places even in indoor areas so as to give yourself a peace of mind.

3.    Detoxifying social media
In this day and age with the advent of social media, apart from street noise, we should pay more attention to the inaudible ‘noise’ on the internet. A study has found that during hot days, people put up 22% more hateful messages than during cool days^５. These sarcastic posts will spread negative energy, therefore when using social media during summer, careful emotional management is needed so as to not let over-enthusiastic online discussions affect your mood. You could also try putting your swiping fingers away, turning off the notifications of your various social group messages, and ‘detoxify your social media’, as well as rediscover the peace of mind.

The effects of global warming could be far greater than what you imagined, in fact excessively hot weather does affect our physical and mental wellbeing. Therefore, stopping global warming is not only for the various species on the Earth and for our next generation, but also for our own mental health and a better life. If you think environmental ideals are too grand and distant, why not start today from your ‘heart’, and make your contribution towards safeguarding mental health.