Heat Exposure Part 2

Thomas Edison once stated that “The chief function of the body is to carry the brain around.” And he was not far off. The brain is the master of the body and protecting it is imperative to current and future health. In its abundance of benefits, heat exposure therapy has numerous positive effects on the brain. 

Another word of caution. There is such a thing as too much, more is not always better. When it comes to heat, hotter is not always better. Core body temperatures exceeding 107 degrees Fahrenheit can have massively negative impacts on the brain and start to cause massive brain and organ damage. Well controlled heat on the other hand has positive effects. Always consult your physician before starting new protocols, especially ones dealing with extremes. 

Heat therapy increases a protein called brain derived neurotrophic factor. This protein acts on all parts of the nervous system and can enhance the growth of new neurons. This is important since after 18 months of age, very few brain cells are added and primarily a pruning of connections takes place. 

Sufficient blood flow to the brain is required for normal cognitive function to take place. That is why decreases in cardiovascular health often go hand in hand with decreases in cognition. Heat exposure therapy has been shown to increase the release of what are called vasodilators. This, combined with increases in artery wall compliance also from heat exposure therapy, can increase the amount of blood flow and the ease of that flow going to the brain. 

Two major hormones in the function of the brain are norepinephrine and prolactin. Norepinephrine is responsible for attention and focus while prolactin helps with myelin growth. Myelin helps the brain function faster and repairs nerve cell damage. Heat exposure therapy increases both prolactin and norepinephrine by up to 900 and 300 percent respectively. Meaning that heat exposure therapy can help the brain be more focused and attentive, function faster and repair itself from damage better. As an added bonus, heat exposure therapy can decrease cortisol, the stress hormone. 

In sum, in just the brain, heat exposure therapy can increase attention, cognition, focus, speed of function, and total brain cells while simultaneously repairing brain damage and decreasing stress. Not too bad for getting a little sweaty.