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Reporting Sandra McNeill
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Daily J PM, Health, Local, News, Radio.com - News, Syndicated Local, Syndication, WeatherROYAL OAK (WWJ) – Do you find yourself a little irritated this week? It’s probably the heat.
Beaumont Hospital psychiatrist Dr. William Miles says there’s a lot data showing that the heat makes us angry and irritated, crime and suicides go up, but no one really understands why.
“You know, this is not unique to humans. I have dogs and … when my dogs are hot, they wanna be left alone,” said Miles, in an interview with WWJ’s Sandra McNeil.
“I think one of the reasons that we get more irritable when it gets hot is that we’re just not sleeping as well. I know that’s certainly true for me, personally. I don’t sleep well when it’s hot, even with the air conditioner on,” he said.
Miles said another theory is that heat stimulates a part of the brain called the hypothalamus, tricking the body.
“The hypothalamus is hyper-sensitive to external stimuli. We’re going to perceive those stimuli as a threat, when normally we would not perceive such stimuli as a threat,” he said.
“And, the natural response to a perceive threat is anger. We’re hard-wired that way,” Miles said.
Are you more easily angered or annoyed in the heat? Comment below.
