Medical professionals in the Hudson Valley discuss how to stay safe in the heat
The extreme heat that's been impacting the region can make health conditions worse.
More Stories
Doctors across the Hudson Valley are seeing an uptick in heat-related injuries and medical issues due to the extreme heat.
"It does feel like it's worse this year, and I think it's just the number of days that are hot in a row and the level of humidity," says Dr. Juliette Provenzano-Gober, with Urgent Care of Westchester in Tarrytown.
Provenzano-Gober says a lot of what they've been seeing over this stretch of warm weather is heat exhaustion, dehydration and sunburns. She says people who already live with medical conditions like diabetes and heart disease, have it even worse.
"The weather makes it so much harder for everyone to regulate their temperatures and get the fluids they need," says Dr. Provenzano-Gober.
Mix all of that with another heat-related issue they are tracking over at Westchester Medical Center.
"These surfaces can get over 100 degrees and cause significant burns, not only to the surface of the body but those burns can cause injuries and organ failure," says Dr. Kartik Prabhakaran, with Westchester Medical Center.
Prabhakaran is talking about burns from warm surfaces like on pavement, sand and playground equipment. He says the best way to stay safe is to wear good shoes and limit your time on these kinds of surfaces.
Doctors tell News 12 to be on the lookout for symptoms like dehydration and lightheadedness.
