Wildfire Smoke Health Guide

What is in wildfire smoke?

Wildfire smoke contains gases and particles produced when trees, brush, buildings, vehicles, and other materials burn. The exact mixture changes with the fuel, temperature, weather, and distance from the fire. Fine particle pollution, especially PM2.5, is a central health concern because the particles can travel deep into the lungs.

Smoke can travel hundreds or thousands of miles. A community does not need to be close to flames to experience unhealthy air.

Common short-term symptoms

Breathing smoke can cause coughing, wheezing, scratchy throat, runny nose, irritated sinuses, stinging eyes, headache, tiredness, chest discomfort, or a fast heartbeat. People with asthma or COPD may have an attack or worsening symptoms. Particle pollution can also stress the cardiovascular system.

Who needs extra protection?

Anyone can become ill, but risk is not equal. Stronger precautions may be appropriate for children, pregnant people, adults over 65, outdoor workers, people without access to filtered indoor air, and people with asthma, COPD, heart disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, or other chronic conditions.

Higher risk does not mean that a person will definitely become sick. It means they should act sooner, limit exposure more, and follow their clinician’s plan.

Exposure is a dose

The amount of pollution inhaled depends on concentration, duration, and breathing rate. A short, easy walk generally produces a lower dose than a long run at the same AQI because strenuous activity makes you breathe more deeply and rapidly. Reducing time and exertion can lower exposure when outdoor activity cannot be avoided.

Protect yourself outdoors

Stay indoors in cleaner air when possible. If outdoor time is necessary, shorten it and avoid heavy exertion. A well-fitting NIOSH-approved N95 respirator can reduce exposure to particles. Facial hair, gaps, poor sizing, or frequent removal reduces protection. Respirators do not filter all gases and vapors and do not protect from heat or approaching fire.

Protect yourself indoors

Close windows and doors, use recirculation, run compatible HVAC filtration, and use a portable HEPA cleaner or properly built temporary DIY cleaner. Avoid candles, incense, smoking, vaping, aerosol sprays, frying, broiling, and vacuuming without a HEPA filter.

What helps recovery?

The first step is ending or reducing exposure. Rest, regular hydration, prescribed medication, sleep, and a comfortable indoor environment support general recovery. No food, tea, steam treatment, supplement, or “detox” product has been proven to remove smoke particles from the lungs.

The lungs have natural clearance mechanisms, but irritation may persist. Do not deliberately force coughing or use unprescribed inhalers. People with chronic conditions should follow their action plan and contact their healthcare professional when symptoms are not controlled.

When to seek medical care

Move to cleaner air if symptoms develop. Contact a healthcare professional for persistent coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, worsening asthma, or symptoms that interfere with sleep or normal activities. Call 911 for severe breathing difficulty, chest pain, fainting, confusion, or blue or gray lips or face.

After the smoke clears

Continue checking AQI because smoke can return with a wind shift. Replace heavily soiled filters, clean with damp methods, and avoid disturbing ash. If structures burned nearby, follow local public-health cleanup instructions because ash from buildings may contain hazards not represented by the AQI.