The Times Australia
The Times World News

.

Knowing how heat and humidity affect your body can help you stay safe during heat waves

  • Written by JohnEric W. Smith, Associate Professor of Exercise Physiology, Mississippi State University

Less than a month into North America’s official summer, heat waves are blistering much of the West. California and the Southwest are facing excessive heat watches[1] for the second time, after a mid-June heat wave[2] pushed temperatures above 100 F (38 C).

And in late June an intense heat dome settled over the Pacific Northwest[3] for four days, setting all-time temperature records in Oregon, Washington and British Columbia. The effects were most evident in Lytton, British Columbia, which reported a temperature of 121 F (49.5 C) on June 29[4], far above its average high for the date of 76 F (24.4 C). A day later, the town was engulfed by a wildfire[5].

As an exercise physiologist[6], I know that the human body is an amazing machine. But like all machines, it functions effectively and safely only under certain conditions.

People frequently debate whether wet heat in places like Florida or dry heat in desert locations like Nevada is worse. The answer is that either setting can be dangerous. Hot desert climates are stressful due to extreme temperatures, while humid subtropical climates are stressful because the body has trouble removing heat when sweat doesn’t evaporate readily. As recent events have shown, hot is hot.

The influence of humidity

North America has a wide range of climates, but when people talk about heat, they often compare the Southwest and the Southeast. Some communities in the Southwest’s hot desert climates, such as Las Vegas, have average summer high temperatures over 100 F (38 C), with relative humidity[7] typically around 20%. This means the air is holding about one-fifth of the maximum amount of moisture it can hold at that temperature and pressure.

In contrast, Southeast locations like Orlando, Florida, typically have average temperatures around 90 F (32.2 C), with humidity regularly approaching 80%. Looking only at temperature, the desert clearly is hotter on average.

However, it’s also important to consider how heat affects the body. Weather reports often do this using the heat index[8], which calculates how the human body perceives conditions factoring in humidity as well as heat.

Sweating is your body’s primary way of cooling you off. When sweat evaporates away from your skin, it takes heat with it[9]. But when humidity is high, the air already holds a lot of moisture, so the sweat remains on your skin. As it saturates clothing and drips from the body, it can remove only a small amount of heat compared with the cooling that comes with the evaporation of sweat.

As a result, when we account for humidity, the heat exposures people experience in Las Vegas and Orlando are very similar.

Table showing hazardous heat/humidity combinations. The National Weather Service’s Heat Index shows the risk of activity based on heat plus humidity. NOAA[10]

Adapting people and places to heat stress

As people go through their daily lives, their bodies work continuously to maintain a temperature close to a normal level of about 98.6 F (37 C). In regions that regularly experience high heat stress, such as the Southeast and Southwest, most buildings and homes now have air conditioning, which helps people maintain healthy temperatures.

But in areas where heat is unusual, such as the Pacific Northwest, many buildings and residences lack cooling[11]. As a result, people are exposed to higher heat for longer periods of time during events like the region’s late June heat wave than they would be in regions where hot weather is the norm.

Just as buildings and residences in areas chronically exposed to heat are equipped with ceiling fans and air conditioning, bodies that are regularly exposed to heat can acclimatize[12], or adapt and improve their ability to cool. This starts to occur with the first heat exposure – for example, the beginning of fall sports practices in August – but take weeks of regular exposure to reach maximal levels.

One of the first things our bodies do in adapting to heat is to produce more plasma[13] – the watery portion of blood. This enables our circulatory systems to move heat to the skin more effectively so that sweating can remove it from the body.

We also begin sweating earlier than people who are not acclimatized to heat, and our maximal sweat rate increases[14]. These adaptations improve our bodies’ ability to dissipate heat to the environment.

Workplace flyer with tips for acclimatizing to heat. Outdoor workers should build up to a full day in the heat to allow their bodies to acclimatize to it. CDC[15]

Behavior changes are another way of adapting to heat stress. Since midday is typically the hottest part of the day, it makes sense to avoid physical work and exercise then. When people are active, their bodies break down nutrients – carbohydrates, fats and protein – into energy. This powers movement and also generates metabolic heat, which adds to the body’s heat stress.

Taking advantage of shade is another important strategy. Heat radiating from the Sun adds to the stress produced by warm air temperatures. Staying in the shade can significantly reduce the external heat load on people who have to be outdoors during hot spells[16].

Many of the hundreds of deaths and hospitalizations[17] that experts have attributed to the recent heat dome in the Northwest probably reflect that buildings there were less equipped to keep people cool than in hotter regions, and residents were less acclimatized to heat.

2020 was Phoenix’s hottest year on record, with 53 days reaching at least 110 F.

The old and young are most vulnerable

A healthy adult body can acclimatize to heat, but older people and children are less able to adjust. As people age, their cardiovascular systems change in ways that cause them to pump blood less effectively[18]. This reduces the body’s ability to move heat to the skin to be transferred to the environment.

[The Conversation’s science, health and technology editors pick their favorite stories. Weekly on Wednesdays[19].]

Children[20] and older adults[21] may also have less active sweat responses, which can reduce their potential to cool off through sweating.

Humans can tolerate most areas of the Earth, but extreme heat requires extra steps. If there’s a heat wave in your local forecast, seek out shade and begin to acclimatize by increasing your activity gradually when things get too hot. Drink more fluids to account for increased fluid loss from sweat[22], while also making sure not to overhydrate[23]. And avoid outdoor activity during the hottest hours of the day if possible.

Whether heat waves are humid or dry, they are health threats that everyone should take seriously.

References

  1. ^ excessive heat watches (www.washingtonpost.com)
  2. ^ mid-June heat wave (www.climate.gov)
  3. ^ Pacific Northwest (www.climate.gov)
  4. ^ 121 F (49.5 C) on June 29 (www.washingtonpost.com)
  5. ^ engulfed by a wildfire (www.cnn.com)
  6. ^ exercise physiologist (scholar.google.com)
  7. ^ relative humidity (www.ncdc.noaa.gov)
  8. ^ heat index (www.weather.gov)
  9. ^ takes heat with it (www.weather.gov)
  10. ^ NOAA (dps.mn.gov)
  11. ^ lack cooling (www.seattletimes.com)
  12. ^ acclimatize (www.cdc.gov)
  13. ^ produce more plasma (dx.doi.org)
  14. ^ maximal sweat rate increases (doi.org)
  15. ^ CDC (www.cdc.gov)
  16. ^ people who have to be outdoors during hot spells (blogs.cdc.gov)
  17. ^ hundreds of deaths and hospitalizations (doi.org)
  18. ^ pump blood less effectively (www.physio-pedia.com)
  19. ^ Weekly on Wednesdays (theconversation.com)
  20. ^ Children (dx.doi.org)
  21. ^ older adults (www.nih.gov)
  22. ^ increased fluid loss from sweat (www.mayoclinic.org)
  23. ^ not to overhydrate (www.mayoclinic.org)

Read more https://theconversation.com/knowing-how-heat-and-humidity-affect-your-body-can-help-you-stay-safe-during-heat-waves-163700

Times Magazine

Headless CMS in Digital Twins and 3D Product Experiences

Image by freepik As the metaverse becomes more advanced and accessible, it's clear that multiple sectors will use digital twins and 3D product experiences to visualize, connect, and streamline efforts better. A digital twin is a virtual replica of ...

The Decline of Hyper-Casual: How Mid-Core Mobile Games Took Over in 2025

In recent years, the mobile gaming landscape has undergone a significant transformation, with mid-core mobile games emerging as the dominant force in app stores by 2025. This shift is underpinned by changing user habits and evolving monetization tr...

Understanding ITIL 4 and PRINCE2 Project Management Synergy

Key Highlights ITIL 4 focuses on IT service management, emphasising continual improvement and value creation through modern digital transformation approaches. PRINCE2 project management supports systematic planning and execution of projects wit...

What AI Adoption Means for the Future of Workplace Risk Management

Image by freepik As industrial operations become more complex and fast-paced, the risks faced by workers and employers alike continue to grow. Traditional safety models—reliant on manual oversight, reactive investigations, and standardised checklist...

From Beach Bops to Alpine Anthems: Your Sonos Survival Guide for a Long Weekend Escape

Alright, fellow adventurers and relaxation enthusiasts! So, you've packed your bags, charged your devices, and mentally prepared for that glorious King's Birthday long weekend. But hold on, are you really ready? Because a true long weekend warrior kn...

Effective Commercial Pest Control Solutions for a Safer Workplace

Keeping a workplace clean, safe, and free from pests is essential for maintaining productivity, protecting employee health, and upholding a company's reputation. Pests pose health risks, can cause structural damage, and can lead to serious legal an...

The Times Features

Exploring the Curriculum at a Modern Junior School in Melbourne

Key Highlights The curriculum at junior schools emphasises whole-person development, catering to children’s physical, emotional, and intellectual needs. It ensures early year...

Distressed by all the bad news? Here’s how to stay informed but still look after yourself

If you’re feeling like the news is particularly bad at the moment, you’re not alone. But many of us can’t look away – and don’t want to. Engaging with news can help us make ...

The Role of Your GP in Creating a Chronic Disease Management Plan That Works

Living with a long-term condition, whether that is diabetes, asthma, arthritis or heart disease, means making hundreds of small decisions every day. You plan your diet against m...

Troubleshooting Flickering Lights: A Comprehensive Guide for Homeowners

Image by rawpixel.com on Freepik Effectively addressing flickering lights in your home is more than just a matter of convenience; it's a pivotal aspect of both home safety and en...

My shins hurt after running. Could it be shin splints?

If you’ve started running for the first time, started again after a break, or your workout is more intense, you might have felt it. A dull, nagging ache down your shins after...

Metal Roof Replacement Cost Per Square Metre in 2025: A Comprehensive Guide for Australian Homeowners

In recent years, the trend of installing metal roofs has surged across Australia. With their reputation for being both robust and visually appealing, it's easy to understand thei...