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OTTUMWA, IOWA -- Residents across the heartland continue to struggle through the heat. 

Temperatures in Iowa and Missouri reached the 90's today with heat the heat index well above the 100 mark. 

Seniors are among those affected the most.  Kim Goering, of the Seneca Area Agency on Aging says the elderly should consult with their doctors when the heat gets this extreme.

“They need to make sure they are near a fan drink plenty of fluids,” Goering said.  “If they're on a water pill that their doctor prescribes, they need to talk to their doctor to find out how much water they should take in.”

Goering added that seniors can also take cold showers to help cool their body temperature. 

One of the most dangerous things a person of any age can do is stay in a closed car. 

It takes only minutes to suffer from heat stroke and it affects children and the elderly the most.

"In the car you're closed in and so the heat just stays into the car and with the sun beating down through the windows it just makes the car hotter.”

During heat advisories it’s suggested to go somewhere that has central air conditioning like a movie theatre or mall.

Many experts suggest checking on older friends and family when the humidity gets this high.

"That's always good to have a system where either you call them or they call you.  You should check on them.  Have a system in place for at least twice a day so that they check them in mid-morning and then late in the afternoon to make sure that they're fine.”