WILDFIRE SMOKE IS CAUSING POOR AIR QUALITY THROUGHOUT THE U.S.—HERE ARE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS THAT IT COULD BE HURTING YOU
In many parts of the United States, a thick fog of smoke has accumulated in the sky, turning the sun an eerie shade of orange and making the air smell like one big campfire. While the smoke is mostly impacting the East Coast, even Midwestern states like Michigan, Illinois and Minnesota are experiencing poor air quality.
This is the result of smoke from uncontained wildfires in Central Canada, which has drifted down to the U.S. with the wind. Now, people in many U.S. cities and states are getting "unhealthy air quality" alerts on their weather apps, with elected officials encouraging people to stay inside when possible and avoid outdoor exercise to avoid the effects of too much exposure to wildfire smoke.
So, what are the signs that poor air quality is harming your health? And what can you do to protect yourself against these risks? Here's what you need to know.
Signs and Symptoms of Health Issues Related to Poor Air Quality
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), wildfire smoke is a mix of gases "from burning vegetation, building materials, and other materials." While vulnerable populations may be more likely to experience adverse effects from wildfire smoke, the CDC emphasizes that it is harmful to everyone. Here are the tops signs that wildfire smoke is affecting your health:
- Coughing or trouble breathing
- A sore, scratchy throat
- Red, itchy eyes
- Wheezing and shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- A runny nose
- Irritated sinuses
- Headaches
- Asthma attacks
- A faster heartbeat
Related: What Your Resting Heart Rate Can Really Tell You About Your Health
Who Should Avoid Going Outside Right Now?
While everyone should try to stay indoors more often than not until the air quality improves, certain populations should be more careful. These include:
- People with asthma or other respiratory diseases
- People with cardiovascular disease
- Kids under the age of 18
- Pregnant people
- People over the age of 60
At-risk people are more likely to develop short and long-term health issues from too much exposure to wildfire smoke, from persistent coughing and difficulty breathing to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality.
Related: What is the Connection Between Blood Sugar and Heart Disease?
How To Protect Yourself Against Poor Air Quality
If you want to protect yourself again poor air quality, here are some important steps to take:
Wear a KN95 mask outside. If you still have KN95 masks hanging around, now is the time to use them. Worn properly, these masks can offer some protection against wildfire smoke. Please note that paper masks or "dust masks" probably won't make much of a difference.
Stay indoors as often as possible. While many people can't completely avoid the outdoors, now is the time to stay inside as often as you can until the air quality improves. If you have access to a gym, exercise there instead of outside, or do a YouTube workout at home.
Related: 125 Best Free Streaming Workouts
Don't burn candles. When there's a lot of smoke in the air, the last thing your body needs is more indoor air pollution, so don't burn candles or light a fire in your fireplace. It's also especially important to avoid smoking or using tobacco products at this time.
Use an air filter. An indoor air filter can help remove harmful particles from the air and provide extra protection for people with heart disease or other respiratory conditions.
Last but not least: Keep an eye on the air quality report. Hopefully, the air quality in the U.S. will improve within the next few days, at which point you can safely resume outdoor activities. Hang in!
Next up: How to Improve Your Lung Health
Sources
- Wildfire Smoke. Centers for Disease Control Prevention (CDC). Accessed 6/7/2023.
- Which Populations Experience Greater Adverse Effects from Wildfire Smoke Exposure? United States Environmental Protection Agency. Accessed 6/7/2023.