Written By: Muskan Gupta | Published : May 14, 2026 9:01 PM IST
Medically Verified By: Dr. Anjani Kumar Sharma
हीटवेव के कारण लोगों को चक्कर आने की परेशानी होती है (Image AI Generated)
Heatwaves are now affecting more than just our comfort levels; they are beginning to affect our neurological health too. In the past two summers there has been a surge in patients being seen presenting with headaches, giddiness, confusion, tiredness, concentration problems, headaches, disturbed sleep and deterioration in their pre-existing neurological conditions. The brain is very sensitive to the effects of various temperatures and hydration levels. It needs a far more even internal environment than many of the other organs.
According to Dr Anjani Kumar Sharma, Director - Neurosciences, CK Birla Hospitals Jaipur, "When suffering from too much heat excesses the body has to work harder to keep the balance through sweating and increasing blood flow to the skin during which time dehydration occurs and electrolytes are depleted rapidly if fluid input is not increased. As a result, headache is another of the commonest neurological presentations in heatwaves."
People tend to assume that this is just due to tiredness or exposure to the sun but dehydration can directly cause headache and migraines. Those with pre-existing migraine tend to experience increased frequency of migraines in the heat.
The doctor further explained that dizziness and loss of consciousness is also another form of turbulence; when the body is exposed to heat, blood vessels dilate and blood pressure is lowered, leading to loss of effective blood flow to the brain. This is more difficult for old people, diabetics, people with hypertension and those taking medication affecting the fluid level in the body.
Dizziness and fainting increase in hot weather
Sleep disruption is also a grossly under-appreciated cause. Elevated night-time temperatures alter diurnal sleep cycles, disrupting rest, and inadequate sleep itself impairs cognitive processes, emotional regulation, memory, and overall nervous system functioning. Really it is common to experience 'brain fog', become irritable, and have attention problems during extended heatwaves, and remain unaware that this may be a physiological rather than purely behavioural response.
"Exacerbation of symptoms in patients with these types of neurological disease, like epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, or history of stroke, may also be triggered by increased heat. Some medications common to these populations affect dehydration or thermoregulation," the doctor added.
The broader problem is that neurological symptoms caused by heat are ignored until they become serious. Chronic confusion, slurred speech, ataxia, unexplained weakness, pounding headache or altered consciousness all in hot weather should not be considered "just heat" and should be evaluated urgently.
Prevention is paramount. Keeping well hydrated, staying out of direct sunlight between 12-16H, replenishing electrolytes and keeping sleep and airflow adequate can prevent excessive neurologic stress in this hot weather spells, mostly in elderly people and those with known neurologic or CV pathology.
