Cat On A Hot Tin Roof

 Heat-related illnesses that strike during a sport or recreational activity send nearly 6,000 people in the United States to emergency rooms every year, according to a report released in 2011 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Sometimes the problem is really not the heat, but the humidity.

"If it is too humid, sweat cannot evaporate and this can prove dangerous, causing a heat injury, such as dehydration, heat cramps or heat stroke," Dr. G. Olson said.

"With humidity the environment is not conducive to evaporation, so the body stores more heat, the core temperature goes up, and your physical performance in negatively impacted," he said.

When ambient temperature is 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius) or more and the humidity is 60 percent, he said exercise should be indoors.

At 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius) and 30 percent humidity you'd still be able to exercise safely, he said, depending of the intensity of the workout, which determines how much heat is produced.

"Generally speaking if temperature is 80 degrees Fahrenheit (26.6 degrees Celsius) and humidity is below 50 per cent, that's going to be pretty comfortable," Bryant said.

Acclimatization, the gradual adaptation to environmental changes such as heat, can also reduce risk of injury, according to Bryant. The body usually takes 10 to 14 days of heat-exposed exercise to adapt.

To beat the heat, adequate hydration before, during and after exercise is a must, Bryant said.

He recommends drinking copious amounts of fluid 30 minutes before exercise, drinking at least six ounces every 20 minutes during exercise, and drinking beyond thirst after exercise.

"Water is generally best," he said. "But consider a sports drink if you're going to exercising for more than an hour."

During the dog days of summer, Bryant suggests working out in the morning, before the day heats up, and protecting skin and eyes with sunscreen and sunglasses.

Information reported by:

Dorene Internicola

From "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof":  Big Daddy, " You...you've got pain-at least you know you're alive." 1958