Why Indian summers can be risky for neurological health: Doctor explains dehydration, heat, and seizures

Step outside in an Indian summer, and it doesn’t take long to feel it. The heat isn’t just uncomfortable, it’s heavy. It slows you down, messes with your focus, and sometimes, it does more than that.We often think of dehydration, sunburn, or fatigue. But the brain takes a hit too. Extreme heat can affect how the brain functions. And that’s when symptoms begin to creep in, headaches, dizziness, confusion, even difficulty concentrating.“During summers extreme heat and humidity can lead to dehydration and sodium loss which in turn can trigger seizure. Low sodium levels in the body due to excessive sweating can also trigger a seizure. Sometimes during summers, people can also have a heat stroke, which can cause loss of consciousness and seizure. People suffering from seizures should hydrate themselves well, wear lightweight and light-coloured clothes during summer,” Dr. Shubha Subramanian, Senior Consultant – Neurology, Kauvery Hospital, Vadapalani, Chennai told TOI Health. But not everyone experiences this the same way. Children, older adults, and people with existing neurological conditions are more vulnerable. So are those who spend long hours outdoors, delivery workers, traffic police, street vendors. For them, this isn’t occasional discomfort. It's a daily exposure.And even indoors, it’s not always safe. Poor ventilation, power cuts, or lack of cooling can make things worse. The brain, after all, relies on a stable internal environment. Extreme heat pushes it out of balance.“Childhood epilepsy syndromes like Dravet syndrome, can also cause excessive seizures because of extreme external heat. We all know how harsh Indian summers can be, so it’s important to stay safe by taking proper precautions and avoiding venturing out during the daytime when the sun is at its peak. Extreme summer heat can affect overall neurological health and may lead to cognitive dysfunction. People can have memory disturbances and brain fog,” Dr. Shubha Subramanian said.“In case of demyelinating disorders like multiple sclerosis, there can be exacerbation of symptoms because of external heat. There is also an increased risk of stroke because of dehydration caused by the summer season. It also poses risk factors for patients with Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's because of defective thermoregulation. Summer and the hot weather can also cause fatigue. And we all know how going out in the sunlight can trigger headaches in people with migraines. It's a very well-known trigger factor,” the doctor added. The tricky part is how easily early symptoms get brushed off. A mild headache. Feeling unusually irritable. Forgetting things. We tend to blame it on a “long day” or “too much heat” and move on.But sometimes, that’s exactly the point. The heat is already affecting how the brain is working.So, staying hydrated helps. Taking breaks from the sun helps. But awareness matters just as much. Knowing that the heat isn’t just physical, it’s neurological too, changes how seriously we take it.And maybe that’s what Indian summers demand now. Not just endurance, but attention.Medical experts consulted This article includes expert inputs shared with TOI Health by: Dr. Shubha Subramanian, Senior Consultant – Neurology, Kauvery Hospital, Vadapalani, ChennaiInputs were used to explain how harsh Indian summer can be devastating for the neurological health. The doctor has revealed symptoms and remedies as well.