Extreme Heat and Your Health

What happens when your body’s built-in cooling system can’t keep up? Emergency medicine physician Dr. Robert Inglis joins Living Healthy Together to explain how the human body regulates temperature, why extreme heat can become dangerous, and what happens when that delicate balance begins to fail. From dehydration and heat exhaustion to serious cardiovascular stress, heat-related illness affects far more than comfort. You’ll learn how heat impacts your heart, kidneys and other vital organs, why humidity can be just as important as temperature, and how medications, chronic health conditions and age can increase your vulnerability during hot weather. Dr. Inglis also discusses heat illness warning signs, practical steps families can take to stay safe, and why communities in the Northeast may be less prepared for rising temperatures than regions where extreme heat is more common. Whether you’re caring for children, checking in on older adults, managing a chronic condition, or simply trying to stay active during the summer, this episode provides practical guidance for staying safe as temperatures continue to rise.