Wildfires continue to occur with increasing frequency in neighboring states in the United States and Canada, affecting air quality in these areas and potentially causing respiratory health issues thousands of miles away.
Wildfire Smoke Hazards
Wildfire smoke contains a variety of pollutants. Ultrafine pollutants pose the greatest threat because they can penetrate deep into the lungs, which can cause inflammation and exacerbate existing respiratory diseases. Respiratory irritants, such as hydrocarbons and other organic chemicals found in the smoke, can cause a range of symptoms from coughing and wheezing to chest tightness and shortness of breath.
Wildfire smoke can also affect cardiovascular health: fine particulate matter can enter the bloodstream and cause inflammation throughout the body, exacerbating cardiovascular conditions.
Inhaling wildfire smoke can have the following health effects:
- Asthma attacks
- Chest pain
- cough
- A fast heartbeat
- headache
- snot
- sore throat
- Sinusitis
- Stinging in the eyes
- Fatigue
- Difficulty breathing, wheezing, shortness of breath
People with a history of heart disease or high blood pressure may experience symptoms such as chest pain, palpitations and fatigue when exposed to increased concentrations of wildfire smoke.
Children are more susceptible to the effects of environmental pollutants because their respiratory systems are still developing.
It can be hard to keep your kids indoors, especially when the weather looks nice, but it’s important to keep an eye on the weather and air quality. If the air quality is not very good, it’s okay for your kids to spend limited time outdoors. If the air quality is poor, find alternative activities indoors until the air quality improves.
Older adults, who have reduced lung function and a reduced tolerance to respiratory stress, should pay particular attention to air quality during wildfires and adjust their activities accordingly.
Chronic disease management
People with existing respiratory conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and bronchitis are at higher risk of experiencing worsening symptoms or difficulty breathing during periods of poor air quality.
People needing relief from widespread smoke can seek refuge in indoor environments equipped with filtered air conditioning systems.
If you have a chronic respiratory disease, talk to your health care team about what to do if outdoor air quality is poor. Keep enough medications on hand, including rescue inhalers and controller medications. If exposed to wildfire smoke, have a plan of action outlining steps to manage symptoms and when to seek medical treatment, if needed.
Pay attention to the air quality in your area
Monitoring air quality indexes and advisories is important to minimize exposure to harmful pollutants.
Just as you check the weather forecast every day, you should also check the Air Quality Index for your area. And just as you would carry an umbrella in case it rains, you should also consider carrying personal protective equipment, if necessary, such as an N95 respirator, which effectively filters out small particles from wildfire smoke.
The U.S. Air Quality Index (AQI) measures air pollution according to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Air Act.
The AQI has six color-coded categories to help you quickly determine the air quality in your area.
- green — There is little risk from air pollution and air quality is good.
- yellow — Air quality is acceptable, but there may be risks for people sensitive to air pollution.
- orange — Most people are unlikely to be affected, but those sensitive to air pollution could experience health effects.
- purple — increasing the risk of health effects for everyone.
- Maroon — Anyone can be affected by dangerous situations.
Visit AirNow for real-time updates and guidance on whether your area is affected by smoke and fires. This is a valuable resource for monitoring air quality indicators and accessing the information you need during a wildfire outbreak.
Mark Norton, MDis a pulmonologist and critical care specialist in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
