Our thoughts are with all those who are suffering from the ongoing fire disaster. For those of us in the Portland metro area, we woke up today shrouded in wildfire smoke. The smoke can have serious health consequences, especially for those with heart and lung disease. Fine particles (PM2.5) pose the greatest health risk. These fine particles can get deep into lungs and some may even get into the bloodstream. Exposure to these particles can affect a person’s lungs and heart. These fine particles may increase susceptibility to COVID infection and can exacerbate illness for those who have it. Visit https://aqicn.org/map/oregon/ to see real time air quality monitors around the region.
Here are some tips for coping with the unhealthy air:
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Stay inside as much as possible with the doors and windows closed.
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If your throat feels irritated, try drinking a glass of water to rinse the smoke particles off. For irritated sinuses, you might try the SinusRinse by NeilMed, widely available at pharmacies or online.
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Avoid activities that can worsen indoor air quality such as smoking, vacuuming, dusting, burning candles, or cooking at high temperatures.
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If you have forced air heating/cooling, get a high-efficiency furnace filter to replace your standard filter, and turn the fan setting on (or air conditioner if it is hot inside).
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If you don’t have a forced-air system, a portable HEPA air purifier can help clean small areas. We’re partial to the product reviews on The Wirecutter, which lists several models.
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If you are a do-it-yourselfer, check out this video on making your own.
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If you must venture outside, wear an N95 or P100 respirator. Your paper or cloth COVID masks won’t be of much help.
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Stress and anxiety from these kinds of events is not unusual, so make time to care for yourself and your loved ones.
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More information about improving indoor air quality can be found here.
Finally, COVID-19 and wildfire smoke exposure share several symptoms in common (headache, cough, and shortness of breath). However, symptoms of smoke exposure — unlike COVID-19 — do not include fever. If in doubt, we recommend using the CDC Symptom Checker, or reach out to your Baskin Clinic doctor.
Take care,
Baskin Clinic