BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – As extreme heat settles in for the rest of the week, with First Alert Weather Days starting Friday, physical safety is top of mind for many.
We often hear about the physical dangers of high temperatures—like heat exhaustion and heat stroke—but medical experts say it is equally important to pay attention to your mental well-being during a heat wave.
“Trying to separate out physical from mental health is really an artificial separation,” said Dr. Matthew Macaluso, vice chair of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). “The two run together very closely.”
How heat impacts your mood and mind
When temperatures soar, our bodies have to work overtime just to keep us cool. According to Dr. Macaluso, that physical strain leaves less bandwidth for mental and emotional regulation…