‘Feels Like 50°C’: Apollo hospital expert explains dangerous impact of heat & humidity
May 29, 2026
New Delhi, May 28, 2026 (ANI) On 35°C wet-bulb danger and heatwave impact, Dr Prasun Chatterjee, Sr Consultant, Geriatric Medicine, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, says, "The temperature might be 35 degrees C, but due to the heatwave, it feels like 50 degrees C. The reason for this is primarily the humidity—a factor that wasn't as prevalent in the past but is now characteristic of environmental change. When humidity levels are high, even though the body is heating up internally, sweat does not evaporate effectively. Even at night, the temperatures remain extremely high. The body simply isn't getting the opportunity to cool down or release the internal heat. So, when there is internal heat, every organ is affected, most importantly, the brain. Your heart, blood pressure, and kidneys are all highly susceptible to damage. Therefore, a major issue among the elderly is their lack of perspiration. Whenever humidity rises, and sweating typically increases in such conditions, they may become severely dehydrated without even realising it... This can be a life-threatening situation... Internally, your organs are suffering from dehydration—especially the kidneys. Consequently, we are seeing a significant number of cases involving kidney injury... Therefore, you need to ensure you take in fluids, and along with that, you should also consume sodium... At this particular time, I believe one should consume small, frequent meals. This is because many foods, especially fruits, contain a significant amount of water. So, you should eat small portions frequently..."
