Not Just the Lungs: Wildfire Smoke May Increase Heart Risks

Lower your risks when there’s smoke

Wildfires are nothing new, but they are becoming more frequent and more intense, experts say. “And those trends are projected to continue due to a drying and warming climate,” O’Dell adds. So it’s important to be prepared should the smoke from a blaze blanket your area.

Here’s what the experts recommend:

Check the air quality before venturing out. You can find updated air quality forecasts at airnow.gov or on your phone’s weather app. Depending on the index, adjust your activities accordingly — especially if it's hot out. A study published July 24 in the journal Circulation found that the risk of experiencing a fatal heart attack may be twice as high on days when it's both hot out and when there are high levels of fine particulate pollution in the air.

Wildfire smoke can make anyone sick, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), but older adults, pregnant women, children and people with preexisting respiratory and heart conditions are at higher risk when the air quality is poor. If you’re unsure of your risks, talk to your doctor.

Take air-quality alerts seriously. “It can't bleed into the background,” says Basu, noting that air pollution kills an estimated 7 million people globally each year. “It’s a serious thing that we need to be very conscious of.”

If you’re at high risk for a health issue from wildfire smoke and the air quality is worsening, stay indoors with the windows closed and avoid activities that contribute to poor air quality, like frying or burning candles.

Be in touch with your doctor. The American Lung Association advises people with heart disease, lung disease and diabetes to talk to their doctor about any changes in medications that may be needed to help them cope with smoke.

If you need to go out, mask up. One helpful tool that many people have on hand from the pandemic is an N95 mask or similar respirator. Cloth and paper masks won’t cut it when it comes to wildfire smoke. Make sure your mask has a good seal. Take a deep breath in: If the masks collapses when you inhale, you’re good to go.

Use a portable air filter. Like masks, portable air filters became more popular during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. “We learned a lot of lessons from COVID,” Basu says. One being: “The health of the air we breathe is critical to our health,” he says.

The American Heart Association’s 2020 scientific statement on air pollution exposure ranks portable air cleaners as one of the most effective ways to deal with air pollution. “Given their modest upfront cost ($50 to $200) and potential benefits in reducing cardiopulmonary outcomes, this measure has a high benefit for the cost,” the American Heart Association’s Sasson said.

In the market for one? O’Dell recommends checking the California EPA’s website of certified air cleaners. You can also DIY one — called the Corsi-Rosenthal box — using a box fan, air filters and some duct tape.

Stay hydrated. “Maintaining adequate oral hydration by drinking water and other fluids is also important to preserve the function of cilia, the microscopic broomlike cells in the airways that help sweep out particulate contaminants inhaled from the environment,” Clayton Cowl, M.D., a Mayo Clinic pulmonologist and clinical toxicologist, said in a news release.

Know the warning signs of heart attack and stroke. Symptoms of chest discomfort, shortness of breath, numbness on one side, sudden speech difficulty and weakness all warrant emergency attention. There are several other warning signs of a heart attack or stroke — get familiar with them and call 911 if you or anyone around you experiences them.

Editor's Note: This story, originally published June 9, 2023, has been updated to include new information.