Wildfire Smoke Affecting Asthma

 

My city is inundated with wildfire smoke right now. 

I woke up to see golden light shining through the blinds - and instantly panicked. 

I know that a golden tinge in the air means the wildfire smoke from hundreds of miles away has drifted to my city.  

Checking air quality 

Did you know that you can check the air quality in your area using Purple Air? 

Purple Air uses data from 35,000 air sensors around the world. They are low cost air sensors that people can buy and attach to their house. 

Are they as good as EPA's expensive air quality sensors? No. 

But, does EPA have enough air quality sensors across the U.S.? Also no.  

Health effects of wildfire smoke on asthma 

Wildfire smoke is filled with tiny particles, called PM 2.5. (PM stands for particulate matter.)

PM 2.5 is so tiny, you can only see it with a microscope. It's 1/30th the size of a human hair.   

Those tiny particles can get down deep inside the lungs  

American Lung Association says:

"Particle pollution triggers asthma attacks, heart attacks and strokes—and can kill. Studies of children in California found that children who breathed the smoky air during wildfires had more coughing, wheezing, bronchitis, colds, and were more likely to have to go to the doctor or to the hospital for respiratory causes, especially from asthma."  

I am very careful with wildfire smoke because I was once caught outside - and couldn't get to my car fast enough. I inhaled so much wildfire smoke that I ended up with a bad asthma flare, and spent time in the ER. 

My son also ended up in the ICU once - thanks to wildfire smoke that slowly filled the valley. 

If you are outside and having ANY problems with your asthma, please follow your asthma action plan to see if you need to check with your doctor or head to the ER. 

Asthma can go from bad to worse very quickly. 

Please stay inside (if possible), use air purifiers, and keep your inhaler and nebulizer handy!