Staying healthy in heat and humidity

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - When you add humidity to heat, the result is uncomfortable...and sometimes deadly.

"I sweat a lot more on a humid day, so I've got to make sure I hydrate myself with a lot of water and [I'm] just preparing for the sun," said Jacob Barr of Longmeadow.

"Preparation" is the key word with the heat holding off on Tuesday.

"Actually, we drink a lot of water at our house, we have water with us today as well even though it's not hot out," said Beth Dietz who was with her daughter Sydney in Springfield.

When it is hot, drinking water might not be enough to keep you cool.

"Anytime the humidity is significantly elevated, the evaporative process, that sweating and evaporation that helps to lower your body temperature, doesn't work nearly as well," said Dr. Joseph Schmidt, Chief of Emergency Medicine at Baystate Medical Center.

There is a way that we can measure the impact of the humidity on our bodies, it's called the heat index . It's a temperature that tells us how it feels outside when you factor in the heat and humidity.

Excessive heat can lead to heat illnesses as minor as heat rash to the very serious condition known as heat stroke.

To avoid a trip to the emergency room, Dr. Schmidt offers these tips:
-Stay out of the heat by taking advantage of air conditioning
-Avoid strenuous activity during the hottest part of the day
-Drink more non-alcoholic fluids like water
-And check on the very young or old who are more susceptible to the heat.

If you find yourself having trouble thinking, you're nauseous, have a headache or are sweating irregularly, those are signs to seek medical help.