{"id":20648,"date":"2023-08-14T11:54:41","date_gmt":"2023-08-14T16:54:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/?p=20648"},"modified":"2023-08-31T07:08:08","modified_gmt":"2023-08-31T12:08:08","slug":"wildfire-smoke-101","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/healthcare-trends\/wildfire-smoke-101\/","title":{"rendered":"Wildfire Smoke 101"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of the most concerning consequences of <\/span>climate change<\/span> is the escalation of wildfires. Thanks to increased temperatures and ongoing droughts, more and more wildfires are spreading smoke across North America.<\/span><\/p>\n

While wildfires have been common in Western states like <\/span>California<\/span><\/a> for years, most recently, <\/span>Canadian wildfires<\/span><\/a> have been wreaking havoc on air quality in the Midwestern and Eastern US.<\/span><\/p>\n

Breathing in smoke, of course, isn\u2019t good for your health. But is there anything you can do to avoid it? We reached out to <\/span>Dr. MeiLan K. Han<\/span><\/a>, professor of medicine and chief of pulmonary and critical care at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan, for some advice.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why is wildfire smoke dangerous to breathe in?<\/h2>\n

Smoke contains potentially toxic chemicals that can be harmful to your health, in both the short and long term. Because it contains strong gasses and fumes, wildfire smoke can irritate the respiratory system. More concerning is particulate matter \u2014 tiny particles that get into your lungs when you breathe in. \u201cWildfire smoke particles are so small that they can get inhaled deeply into the lungs,\u201d says Han.<\/span><\/p>\n

What are some potential short-term health effects?<\/h2>\n

Immediately after wildfire smoke exposure, you may notice symptoms of inflammation \u2014 maybe a cough due to irritated lungs, or a burning throat or eyes. If you have a preexisting lung condition, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), your symptoms might get worse when you\u2019re exposed to wildfire smoke.<\/span><\/p>\n

Anyone with a preexisting lung condition is more vulnerable to the effects of wildfire smoke. The same is true for elderly people and babies, whose lungs may not be strong enough to cope with smoke exposure.<\/span><\/p>\n

What are some potential long-term health impacts?<\/h2>\n

Breathing wildfire air for <\/span>days or weeks<\/span><\/a> can exacerbate existing lung disease or cause new lung problems, like asthma or COPD, in otherwise healthy people. \u201cWe also know that ultrafine particles in smoke can be taken up into the bloodstream from the lungs and potentially cause things like heart attacks and strokes,\u201d says Han.<\/span><\/p>\n

What can you do to protect yourself?<\/h2>\n

Most cities publish air quality indexes and will send alerts if you need to stay inside. Many are available online, either within existing weather apps, on government websites or through services like the Environmental Protection Agency\u2019s <\/span>AirNow app<\/span><\/a>. \u201cThe higher the air quality index goes, the higher the health risk is,\u201d says Han.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you have to go outside, it\u2019s a good idea to wear an N95-style mask that can filter out tiny particles from the smoke. Keep your windows closed at home and in the car, and if you\u2019re driving, put the A\/C on a recirculating setting so you don\u2019t bring in air from the outside. Window A\/C units typically don\u2019t filter air as well, so consider using an air purifier in the same room if you have to run yours.<\/span><\/p>\n

Taking steps to protect yourself from smoke can go a long way toward protecting your lungs. If you have central air conditioning, be sure you have a filter that can remove tiny particulate matter before circulating air in your house. Han recommends a <\/span>MERV 13 filter<\/span><\/a>, which you can find at home improvement stores.<\/span><\/p>\n

For those with underlying lung conditions, it\u2019s important to keep a rescue inhaler (most commonly, albuterol) on hand at all times. \u201cWe\u2019ve had intermittent shortages of albuterol since the pandemic, so make sure you\u2019re stocked up,\u201d says Han.<\/span><\/p>\n

A HEPA air filter can help reduce irritating particles in your home. If you\u2019d rather not spend the money, Han recommends a DIY approach: \u201cGet a standard box fan and a MERV 13 filter of the same size, then tape it to the front of the fan. As the air draws through and pushes out, it will actually get filtered and improve the air quality of the room you\u2019re in.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Should you get checked up after a wildfire and make sure your lungs are OK?<\/h2>\n

Most people don\u2019t need to see a doctor after exposure to wildfire smoke. \u201cIt\u2019s more about cumulative exposure over a period of years we get concerned about,\u201d says Han. If you\u2019re noticing bothersome symptoms, such as a cough that won\u2019t let up, wheezing or shortness of breath, burning eyes or a sore throat, check in with your primary care provider. If you\u2019re having trouble breathing, Han recommends going to the emergency department.<\/span><\/p>\n

Need a doctor? Find one on Zocdoc<\/a>.<\/h1>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

One of the most concerning consequences of climate change is the escalation of wildfires. Thanks to increased temperatures and ongoing droughts, more and more wildfires are spreading smoke across North America. While wildfires have been common in Western states like California for years, most recently, Canadian wildfires have been wreaking havoc on air quality in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":82,"featured_media":20649,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[229],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20648","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-healthcare-trends","reviewer-dr-nassim-assefi","specialist_by_city-find-primary-care-physicians-near-you","specialist_by_city-urgent-care"],"yoast_head":"\nWildfire Smoke 101 - Healthcare Trends<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"How to protect yourself from wildfire smoke's adverse health effects.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/healthcare-trends\/wildfire-smoke-101\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Wildfire Smoke 101 - 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