A recent AP-NORC poll reveals that Americans are experiencing a transformation in their daily activities due to extreme heat. Many are forced to adjust their schedules, sacrificing sleep and limiting outdoor activities.

As a result, 80% of Americans have experienced an increase in their electricity bills due to the heat. This change has caused 44% of Midwest residents to report a significant impact on their spending, which has become a focus of political concern.

“I feel like my utility bills have probably doubled in the last three or four years,” Daemien Williams, a 50-year-old bridge inspector who lives in Cahokia Heights, Illinois, told the Associated Press (AP). “I review my bills in quite detail and I see that the consumption of kilowatts has increased, not just the price they charge me,” he explained.

For her part, Elisa Bracamonte, a 74-year-old retired nurse and Tucson resident, told the AP that she feels the heat has been increasingly affecting her daily life: her summer plans with family across the region, gatherings with friends, road trips and her daily morning walk routine.

“I've noticed a difference of at least 10 degrees in the weather,” Bracamonte said. “Every summer it seems like it gets hotter and hotter,” he added.

Changes in travel plans and family activities

Extreme heat has changed families' vacations and outdoor activities. 40% of respondents indicate that their travel plans are affected, while 70% mention an impact on recreational activities, such as sports practices for children.

“I have to get up at 5 in the morning to walk before 6, because at 7 it is already very hot… I lose a couple of hours of sleep because I have to wake up earlier,” said Bracamonte. "It's impossible to be outside without getting sick unless you're drinking water non-stop; it's so hot."

Despite the increase in the effects of extreme heat, belief in climate change remains stable. About 66% of Americans believe climate change is real, although this number has decreased slightly in recent years.

How extreme heat affects mental health

Extreme heat can deteriorate Americans' mental health in several ways: it increases irritability, anxiety, stress and fatigue; makes it difficult to concentrate and sleep; and may aggravate pre-existing psychiatric disorders. It is also related to greater use of emergency services and hospitalizations due to mental health crises.

Main effects

Impact on emergencies

In the United States, days with exceptionally high temperatures have been linked to more emergency room visits for behavioral and substance use disorders, followed by anxiety, stress and mood problems. A report on heat waves found an increase in mental health hospitalizations both during the wave and in the days afterward, with particularly marked increases among people with anxiety and personality disorders.

Why it happens

Heat can directly affect brain function and, at the same time, cause dehydration, exhaustion, insomnia and social isolation. Additionally, some psychiatric medications can make it difficult to regulate body temperature or increase the risk of dehydration, so they should not be changed without consulting a professional.

During a heat wave, it is advisable to stay in a cool place, hydrate, protect your sleep, and maintain contact with family or health professionals. Confusion, disorientation, intense agitation, or thoughts of harming yourself require urgent attention.

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