Newer Risk Factors Like climate change
Fundamentally, we are trying to create awareness—both about pollution in general and hygiene in particular. This can have a tremendous impact on the body, immunity, infections, brain health, and overall productivity and ability of an individual. In general, this needs to improve tremendously in our country, and we are trying to educate people. We have a magazine called Brainwise, which has several articles emphasising how various factors influence brain and mind health and how they can impact life and society at large.
Climate Change and Strokes
Heat stroke is an entirely different phenomenon. It refers to a condition where environmental temperatures go very high, particularly during peak summer in certain areas. The patient may experience very high fever—hyperpyrexia—followed by dehydration, unconsciousness, convulsions, and even paralysis. In some cases, it can be fatal.
People working in the hot sun, labourers, or those in factories exposed to high temperatures must be aware of this risk. They can protect themselves by drinking plenty of water, avoiding heat exposure, and improving working conditions.
Similarly, people living in huts or places without air conditioning should avoid midday heat and hydrate well. On the other hand, regular brain strokes—what we call paralysis—can happen more in winter due to physiological changes in the blood vessels and the blood itself. The blood can become thick, and people often don’t drink enough water during cold weather. Blood pressure also tends to rise in winter, and people often skip medications, especially during travel. So both brain haemorrhage and brain stroke (brain attack) are quite common in the winter season, and people need to be careful.
SDG3 on health and well-being
Brain health is increasingly being linked to environmental pollution and radiation due to ozone depletion. Exposure to abnormal weather conditions, sudden changes, and natural calamities contributes to both mental and brain health problems. The brain and mind influence each other. Disturbances in one affect the other. There is inherent stress in situations like pollution, calamities, and migration, all of which negatively impact mental well-being.
There is growing evidence linking pollution—both air and environmental—to diseases like Alzheimer’s, dementia, and Parkinson’s. It’s important to maintain clean and hygienic surroundings. Pollution can also cause viral infections affecting brain health. These range from simple colds to serious infections like encephalitis, which can leave lasting brain damage (post-encephalitic sequelae), such as memory issues, epilepsy, behavioural changes, and more.
We need to educate people that pollution isn’t just an individual issue; it’s a societal and governmental responsibility. Poor drainage, contaminated water, open drains—all contribute to pollution, and the air we breathe gets affected, regardless of where we live. Cumulative exposure over time results in long-term problems. Mask-wearing during COVID-19 helped reduce respiratory issues and, in highly polluted areas, continuing to wear masks could be beneficial.
Air Pollution and Brain Health
There is increasing evidence that brain health is directly impacted by pollution. It’s becoming part of a new field—social neurosciences. A healthy brain helps maintain a healthy environment, and vice versa. In India, while we bathe twice a day, we often neglect to keep our surroundings clean. People throw waste just outside their compound walls. Pollution norms for air, food, water, and drainage are not maintained. Children and adults alike are constantly exposed. Some claim this builds immunity, but in the long run, it’s causing more serious damage that we’re not acknowledging.
Pollution and Vulnerable Population
Everyone is impacted by pollution, but more so people living in slums. They deal with contaminated water, poor sanitation, and open drains. Their exposure is higher, but no one in the country is truly exempt. Some cities have pollution levels that are beyond control. The situation is such that people can’t move out either. It’s important for everyone to follow pollution norms and contribute to solutions. Otherwise, pollution will spread across the country. We also lack sensitivity.
The government can’t do everything—individuals must also take responsibility, ensure they don’t contribute to the problem, and encourage others to do the same. Collective effort can drive change. Without action, mental health is at serious risk due to pollution, climate change, ozone depletion, radiation, electromagnetic waves from technology, noise, and more. Pollution affects hearing, vision, increases cancer risk, and yet we continue contributing to the problem.
Factors Harming Brain Heath
The brain is the crown jewel of creation, with immense potential that we often don’t use. Many people aren’t even aware of its capabilities. It’s like the sun. We notice it only when it’s hidden by clouds. The brain works silently in the background. Unless something goes wrong, we don’t realize its importance. People can train themselves to use the brain more effectively through discipline, a healthy lifestyle, emotional well-being, physical activity, happiness, and good habits like proper sleep, nutrition, and listening to music.
But unfortunately, many factors are damaging brain health: junk food, early exposure to substance abuse, school children smoking or drinking, etc. These are serious societal issues. Physical damage to the brain is also common due to head injuries, especially from road accidents. People ignore safety, race through traffic, don’t follow signals, and there’s a lack of proper roads, licensing, and training. Discipline is essential. Population isn’t the problem, mismanagement is. Systems and rules need to be strictly implemented without exceptions. Development won’t be effective unless the fundamentals are addressed.
Music Therapy
Music is extremely powerful—not just for the brain and body but also the mind and even the universe. There are stories of music creating rainfall or moving objects with its energy.
Music calms the brain. It follows the path of least resistance unlike most activities that create conflict in the mind. With music, the mind simply relaxes. That’s when one connects with their inner self. Music promotes health, happiness, and well-being. It also enables spiritual connection and consciousness. Many saints have used music to reach enlightenment. Music is a shortcut to that level of peace because it doesn’t create resistance in the mind or brain. Once engrossed in music, you’re transported to another world—a state of deep relaxation and inner harmony.
Music therapy profoundly impacts the brain, body and mind by inducing deep relaxation akin to restful sleep, enhancing memory, focus, efficiency, and happiness, while elevating brain functioning and energy for improved mental performance.
