How heat affects your brain while working from home

By Lauren Wilkin

A doctor has revealed the impact working in a hot room has on our brain - with many areas of the UK expected to reach up to 100 degrees Fahrenheit today.

"In my line of work, thermoregulation, hydration and skin physiology is essential," says Dr. James J. Chao, a surgeon.

And Dr. Chao says many people don't realize the real impact working in the heat can have on the brain.

"Our bodies react to heat from the moment we step into a warm room," he explains, which can make working from home - without the office luxury of AC - feel impossible during a heatwave.

"Blood is shunted to the periphery to allow heat to dissipate from the skin which quietly decreases the amount available to nourish our brains," he said.

Dr. Chao, who is chief medical officer at VedaNu Wellness, a plastic surgery clinic, says the prefrontal cortex - the area responsible for planning and focusing - is especially vulnerable to these changes.

"Research shows that performance on mentally taxing tasks begins to decline when ambient temperatures reach approximately 77 degrees," he says.

And dehydration can worsen the situation.

"Dehydration of as little as one to two percent of body weight will further cloud thinking.

"Basically your brain is fighting with your skin for resources….and losing."

And the heat doesn't just impact us mentally, but physically, too.

"Keeping a body cool is hard work.

"Your heart rate increases - sometimes by more than ten beats per minute - without you noticing in a warm room," Dr. Chao says.

"Sweat glands are working overtime and you lose water and sodium through the skin for hours after you step out of the pool.

"It's basically a cardiovascular workout you didn't know you were signing up for."

And with temperatures remaining hot overnight, Dr. Chao says it's unlikely your core temperature will drop enough to enjoy as much deep sleep as you need.

"Hot nights can literally lead to tired mornings," he says.

Tips to stay cool when you're working from home

Dr. Chao says it's all about cooling the person, not the room.

"You can take cold water and put it on your wrists and neck for 30 seconds at a time in order to cool your blood," he says, adding that it's a technique surgeons use to stay cool during lengthy operations.

"Another thing is to front load the tasks in your day that require a lot of thought if you can.

"That's because the body starts to warm up in the late afternoon, so if you can do that hard work when you're cool, that's ideal," he says.

And drinking - even when you're not thirsty - is essential.

"You should also remember to drink water before you're actually thirsty as a way to ensure you're getting enough.

"Thirst is a sign that you're already dehydrated, and you should aim to have at least one glass of water every hour," he advises.