Exposure to higher temperatures is an established threat to public health and has been reported to be associated with many medical conditions and deaths. On extremely hot summer days, US adults are reported to be at an increased risk of visiting emergency dept. (ED) rooms for mental health crises related to substance use, anxiety, stress & more.
This is revealed in a study published in the Journal JAMA Psychiatry by Dr Amruta Nori Sarma and her team at Environmental Health at Boston University School Of Public Health. Amruta and her team obtained daily maximum ambient temperature data from the PRISM climate group. To find the relation between higher temperatures and ED visits, data had to be analysed considering various circumstances including age, sex, locations etc.
Finally the studies suggested established an association between higher ambient temperatures & ED visits. The main findings of the study are as follows:
1. There is a higher likelihood of Emergency Department Visits for mental health conditions on days of extreme heat.
2. This adds to growing evidence that warmth brought on by climate change can worsen symptoms of mental health conditions.
3. The findings could inform Public Health measures to prevent worsening of mental health symptoms in susceptible individuals during high temperatures.
4. The key takeaway from this study is that days of extreme heat are also linked to a higher risk of needing care for mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, substance use & self harm.
5. Extreme weather events such as droughts, wildfires & floods have a clear impact on the mental well- being of the people who experience them.
However, the persistent anxiety about the future of life on our planet looms and can also take its toll. Many environmental campaigners who are frustrated at the failure of politicians and capitalists to act in time to take measures to prevent the adverse effects of climate change on biodiversity as the planet may experience. Thus it is important to build resilience and to turn “eco-anxiety” into positive action.
Man Day Beach Hot Male Ocean Water Drinking
Climate Change & Hotter Weather Can Impact Mental Health – Study Reveals
Latest from Health
Sydney Legionnaires’ Outbreak: 1 Dead, 12 Hospitalized
A serious outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease has hit Sydney’s central business district (CBD), leaving one person dead and 11 others hospitalized. NSW Health officials are racing to contain the spread while investigating
Brits Track Finances, Weather and TV More Than Cancer Symptoms, NHS Warns
The public is checking their financial health far more regularly than their physical health, according to a new NHS survey that has prompted urgent calls for change from leading health officials. Only
Victoria Measles Cases Reach 15 in 2025, 5 Locally Acquired; Exposure Sites Listed Across Melbourne
A newly identified measles case in Victoria with no overseas travel history has health officials concerned about local transmission of the highly contagious disease. The case brings Victoria’s total to 15 measles
77% of Indian Infants Lack WHO-Recommended Dietary Diversity, NFHS-5 Reveals
In the crucial early years when tiny bodies are developing at warp speed, most Indian kids aren’t getting the nutritional variety their growing brains and bodies desperately need. A recent study analyzing
CT Scans Linked to 103K Future Cancer Cases—Up to 5% of New Diagnoses Could Be Prevented
A groundbreaking study just published in JAMA Internal Medicine has found that radiation from CT scans could be responsible for approximately 103,000 future cancer cases in the United States – potentially accounting
Olivia Munn Diagnosed With Aggressive Breast Cancer Despite Testing Negative for 90 Cancer Genes
Actress Olivia Munn has channeled the emotional weight of her recent cancer battle into her performance in Apple TV+’s new series, “Your Friends & Neighbors,” premiering April 11, 2025. The 44-year-old star,
Pfizer Oral GLP-1 Danuglipron Dropped After 73% Nausea and One Liver Injury Case Among 1,400 Patients
Pfizer has pulled the plug on danuglipron (PF-06882961), its experimental once-daily oral GLP-1 receptor agonist for weight management, after a participant in an early-stage dose-optimization trial developed potential drug-induced liver injury (DILI).
Popcorn Lung Diagnosed in 17-Year-Old After 3 Years of Vaping
When 17-year-old cheerleader Brianne Cullen called her mother during practice, gasping that she couldn’t breathe, neither expected the devastating diagnosis that would follow: bronchiolitis obliterans, commonly known as “popcorn lung” – a
NSW Expands Free Japanese Encephalitis Shots to 60 LGAs as Mosquito Threat Grows
NSW has broadened its free Japanese encephalitis (JE) vaccine program to include five more regional areas, offering greater protection as mosquito activity remains high across the state. The expansion, announced on April
Teen Screen Time Above 2 Hours Linked to Anxiety, Depression, and Cognitive Decline
Adolescents have extensive use of screens. It’s directly related to their mental health. A systematic study was carried out to understand the relationship between teen screen time (ST) and psychological disorders. The
Valley Fever in Dogs Surges Fivefold to 12.4% of U.S. Counties in Just 10 Years
Does your dog love to dig? That enthusiastic paw-scratching might be providing scientists with crucial health data. New research shows our canine companions could serve as early warning systems for a potentially
Queensland Seizes 15M Illicit Cigarettes, 172K Vapes in Crackdown
Retail stores hiding illicit tobacco and vapes in secret compartments, trap doors, and even vacuum cleaners are being uncovered by Queensland Health’s specialized enforcement team. Dubbed the “Flying Squad,” this team of
Melanoma Vaccine Trial Fast-Tracked by NHS After 33% Surge in UK Cases Since 2009
A new cancer vaccine for advanced melanoma patients is being fast-tracked through the NHS in England, offering fresh hope to those battling this serious form of skin cancer. The vaccine, called iSCIB1+
Chewing Gum Releases Up To 3,000 Microplastics Per Stick Says UCLA-Led Study
Modern life is complex. To release tension, we tend to resort to some device. Chewing gum is one of these devices. Cricketers are seen having a chewing gum while playing. But this
Measles WA Cases Hit 14 as Vaccination Rates Drop Below 95% in Perth and South West
The number of measles cases in Western Australia has risen to 14 since March 19, 2025. Health officials have confirmed the disease is actively spreading in Metropolitan Perth and South West communities.
