Summer can be hard on your health

Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of the summer season, a good time to remember that a mild winter doesn't mean it will be a mild summer.

If you or a loved one suffers from health problems, a new study puts hard numbers to anecdotal information: Heat waves are potentially deadly to people 65 and older with chronic conditions.

Research published last month in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that between June and August, when temperatures were at least 2 degrees above the daily average for an extended period, the risk of death rose between 2.8 percent to 4 percent for people with chronic conditions such as diabetes, lung disease or a history of cardiovascular problems. The American Medical Association says this may be because some prescription medicines "disrupt sweat production."

The takeaway: Check air-conditioners now, and when heat waves arrive, take it easy outdoors.