With more than ten fires burning over 40,000 acres in Southern California this past month, there are serious health issues that can arise. Wildfires in specific can cause asthma attacks when particles of smoke are inhaled, causing inflammation and lung irritation. These side effects lead to wheezing, coughing, and throat irritation.
Particulate matter is one type of pollutant released during wildfires. Since particulate matter is extremely small, it is able to penetrate deeply into the lungs. Bronchoconstriction is the narrowing of airways, which occurs when the linings of the airway are irritated. This irritation leads to the release of chemicals due to the inflammatory responses. Additionally, the smoke can cause the immune system to flare up and release proinflammatory molecules that further worsen asthma symptoms.
As the body tries to help relieve the effects of smoke inhalation, mucus is produced to attempt to trap and remove harmful particles. However, this overproduction of mucus is harmful to asthma patients, as their airways are already constricted, and the mucus can make the blockage even worse.
For asthma patients especially, it is important to remain indoors during a wildfire if possible and close all windows, to ensure that there is no inhalation of harmful particles. If it is necessary to go outside, wearing N95 masks is the safest option, since N95 masks are made to filter out at least 95% of airborne particles.