It is not a question that smoke can irritate the throat, eyes and more, but some people can also experience more serious effects from the bad air.
While smoke exposure from wildfires has been long associated with lung problems, recent evidence suggests it can also cause heart problems or complicate existing ones. The findings pointed to an increase in the amounts of fine particulate matter in the air, such as dust or soot.
There is a lot of smoke and particulate matter,” said Dr. Ian Riddock, a MultiCare cardiologist. “But don't forget that the lungs are a great avenue for all of this particulate matter to get into the blood vessels.”
Riddock said there might already be plaque buildup and inflammation in the arteries that could put some people at more of a risk of a heart attack or stroke than others.
New research shows that emergency room visits for heart-related ailments jumped, particularly among the elderly and patients who have a pre-existing medical condition. But everyone might want to consider holding off on strenuous activity on a dense, smoky day.
“What I would suggest is to try and limit the dose of particulate matter that you are inhaling while the wild fire season is going on,” Riddock said. “That does not mean that we don't want people to be active … try to reduce your exposure outside.”
But even if you’re stuck indoors, Riddock said it is still important to get up, move and even exercise by going up flights of stairs.
Riddock said people can do their part to minimize their risks by eating healthy and not smoking to keep the blood vessels as healthy as possible.
Breathing in smoke particulates now can potentially lead to heart problems in the future. Riddock said it might be a good idea to get a health screening if you have a family history of heart disease, if you have diabetes or if you are slightly over weight.
Research is limited on the actual effect of wildfire smoke on cardiovascular health. That is because it is more complicated to measure compared to the short- term impact on the lungs.