How fires can affect people’s health

At least 11 individuals have already died and 37,000 acres have burned in the wildfires that are spreading across Los Angeles. Thousands of buildings were affected, leading to mass evacuations, hospitalizations for many, and uncertainty about what the future holds for the City of Angels.

While many are rightly concerned about damaged property and land, the short-term and long-term health consequences of wildfires can be devastating. Here’s how wildfires can affect the health of those near and far from the fires.

Carbon monoxide poisoning

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that can affect those in the vicinity of burning fires. When inhaled, it can reduce the amount of oxygen that is present in the blood that is delivered to the body’s critical organs. When organs like the kidneys and heart don’t get enough oxygen, they are at risk of failing, which can eventually lead to harmful conditions like kidney damage, heart failure, and even heart attacks.

Short-term health effects

Wildfires can affect not only those near the burning smoke, but also many others who are exposed to poor air quality from smoke in the air. Last year, poor air quality from smoke from wildfires in Canada spread as far as New York and many states in northeastern America, posing dangerous health threats hundreds and thousands of miles from the actual fire. The same will be true of the LA fires, which will undoubtedly affect hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of Americans in neighboring states.

The reason for this is due to the harmful effects of particulate pollution, which are tiny particles smaller than the size of a hair follicle that are suspended in the atmosphere when trees, houses and plastics are burned. These small particles can act as irritants, especially when deposited in the eyes, nose and mouth. Typical symptoms from particulate pollution include red eyes, watery eyes and coughing.

In addition, particles can be inhaled deep into the lungs, causing lung damage resulting in shortness of breath, chest pain, and shortness of breath. These health effects all occur in the short term for most individuals.

Long Term Health Effects

Particulate pollution can settle deep in the lungs and may not be completely cleared from the body, especially if exposure to such toxins is sustained for long periods of time. This can lead to harmful long-term health effects, such as promoting chronic conditions such as asthma, as well as obstructive lung diseases such as bronchitis.

Research also shows that those exposed to wildfire smoke or those affected by particulate pollution are more likely to develop chronic conditions such as obstructive lung disease or have an increased risk of having a heart attack or stroke in the brain due to inflammation of particles in the lungs or bloodstream. . Long-term exposure to wildfires can increase the risk of eventually developing lung cancer, similar to how secondhand smoke remains a risk factor for developing lung cancer, according to a study published in The Lancet.

Mental health effects

Countless Americans have lost their homes to the wildfires raging in LA, including notable celebrities such as Billy Crystal and Paris Hilton. Imagine the stress, anxiety and even depression that comes with losing a home that is the place of rest, comfort and where lifelong memories are made. For some, the vision of seeing your house go up in flames can lead to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, a condition that can last a lifetime resulting in devastating mental health consequences.

Vulnerable populations

Although everyone’s health can be affected when they experience wildfires, certain populations are more likely to experience the adverse health effects of wildfires. These include children, the elderly and those with chronic medical conditions. Children are more susceptible because their lungs are still developing and cannot remove toxins as efficiently as adults with fully developed lungs. In addition, the elderly are more likely to have chronic medical conditions and weakened immune systems, which make it more difficult to remove particles from the lungs and bloodstream, thus amplifying the harmful effects of fire smoke.

How to optimize health during fires

The most effective way to stay healthy during fires is to stay indoors and keep windows and doors closed. This prevents the body from inhaling and interacting with harmful smoke and debris from fires. In addition, having humidifiers and air purifiers can help circulate good quality air to minimize the risk of poor quality air being inhaled directly into the lungs. Staying indoors isn’t always feasible for many people during wildfires, so it’s essential to evacuate when necessary and seek medical attention if you start coughing, wheezing, experiencing chest pains or shortness of breath.