Health
How wildfire smoke affects the body: Doctors warn of health hazards
The Los Angeles wildfires have caused devastating losses of homes and lives — and survivors may also face hidden, although still potentially very dangerous, health effects.
Wildfire smoke contains a “complex mixture” of fine particles that can pose hazards after just short-term exposure, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Known as PM2.5, or particulate matter, these microscopic particles and droplets are 2.5 micrometers or less in diameter.
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“Your nose and mouth are entry points into your body,” Dr. Gustavo Ferrer, a Florida pulmonologist with extensive experience in respiratory health and air quality-related illnesses, told Fox News Digital.
“The smoke you are breathing gets caught inside your sinuses, and if you’re exposed a lot, some of that will start to irritate the lining and lead to inflammation,” a doctor warned. (AP Photo/Noah Berger) (AP Newsroom)
“The smoke you are breathing gets caught inside your sinuses, and if you’re exposed a lot, some of that will start to irritate the lining and lead to inflammation,” he warned.
“These are signs that the pollution may be overwhelming the body’s natural defenses.”
Austin Perlmutter, MD, a board-certified internal medicine physician in Seattle, noted that exposure to wildfire smoke can penetrate through the lung tissue and enter the bloodstream.
Specific health effects
People exposed to air pollution can have a number of different symptoms, including burning eyes, sore throat, cough, sinus problems, fatigue, headaches, chest pain, shortness of breath and brain fog, according to Perlmutter.
Prolonged exposure to wildfire smoke can also aggravate existing conditions such as asthma, bronchitis and other chronic respiratory diseases, Ferrer noted.
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“The smoke can also worsen pre-existing respiratory conditions, like asthma or emphysema,” noted Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health and Fox News senior medical analyst.
“Also, not having enough oxygen can provoke a heart attack or stroke.”
People exposed to air pollution can have a number of different symptoms, including burning eyes, sore throat, cough, sinus problems, fatigue, headaches, chest pain, shortness of breath and brain fog. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer) (AP Newsroom)
Wildfire smoke has also been linked to an increased risk of a number of diseases, including heart and lung problems and brain dysfunction, Perlmutter added.
Certain groups are at a higher risk, he cautioned, including people with underlying heart and lung diseases or other existing chronic diseases, as well as infants, young children and older adults.
“The smoke can worsen pre-existing respiratory conditions, like asthma or emphysema.”
There are also mental health effects, according to Siegel.
A 10-year study in Nature Mental Health showed a “significant mental health impact” on Californians exposed to wildfires, the doctor pointed out.
“People may feel anxiety over being displaced or fear of losing their homes,” Siegel said. “This may lead to them being unable to sleep.”
There is also the increased danger of falls and other injuries from being in damaged areas where fire-related devastation occurred, he added.
6 tips to protect health amid wildfires
Experts shared the following steps people can take to help reduce the risk of wildfire health effects.
1. Practice nasal hygiene
Keeping your nasal passages open and clean is essential, Ferrer emphasized.
“Washing daily, or up to two times a day or regularly, using a saline nasal spray can help clean the filter that’s inside your nose so it’s as effective as possible,” he told Fox News Digital.
During periods of high smoke levels, it’s best to limit time outdoors and keep windows and doors closed, experts agreed. (Richard Vogel)
People can use a pre-made saline solution or make their own at home with distilled water and salt, he said.
2. Stay indoors and optimize indoor air
During periods of high smoke levels, it’s best to limit time outdoors and keep windows and doors closed, according to Ferrer.
Using HEPA filters can also help to improve air quality, Shah noted.
“Invest in air purifiers with HEPA filters to trap fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from wildfire smoke,” he suggested.
Shah also recommends using weather stripping where needed and changing HVAC filters at a higher frequency.
During the first few months of cleanup, excess chemicals and particulates that are released can significantly worsen air quality. (iStock)
People may also want to minimize “indoor air pollution,” Perlmutter added.
“Don’t light candles, fires or incense and don’t smoke indoors,” he advised. “If you cook, ventilate using a hood if you have one.”
3. Consider leaving the area temporarily
During the first few months of cleanup, excess chemicals and particulates that are released can significantly worsen air quality, warned Dr. Darshan Shah, MD, a board-certified surgeon and founder and CEO of Next Health in California.
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“Consider relocating temporarily to a safer area until conditions improve,” he recommended.
4. Wear a mask
When venturing outside, experts recommend wearing a well-fitting N95 respirator mask to filter out smoke particles.
When venturing outside, experts recommend wearing a well-fitting N95 respirator mask to filter out smoke particles. (AP Newsroom)
“Cloth masks, dust masks and other lower quality masks likely won’t provide much protection,” Perlmutter said.
5. Monitor air quality
Experts recommend regularly checking the AQI (Air Quality Index).
“Use apps or websites (like AirNow) to monitor air quality and avoid outdoor activities when AQI is unhealthy,” Shah said.
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6. Do not tour burned areas
“Avoid visiting recently burned areas, as they pose a high risk of exposure to harmful chemicals and smoldering smoke, which can severely impact respiratory and overall health,” Shah advised.
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Health
Parasitic infection causing ‘explosive’ stomach illness exceeds 1,000 cases in northern state
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Cases of cyclosporiasis infections are rising across America, with more than 1,000 people diagnosed in Michigan and more than 500 in Ohio.
This is the largest outbreak of its kind in Michigan’s history and one of the country’s largest in years, according to the Associated Press.
The parasitic infection can cause weeks of watery diarrhea. The source of the infections has not been identified and no deaths have been reported.
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Michigan officials announced the outbreak last week following the identification of more than 170 cases since June 22 in the southeastern part of the state. Typically, only about 50 cases are identified in Michigan each year, according to AP.
A cyclospora infection often causes watery, “explosive” diarrhea that can last for weeks or even months if left untreated, the CDC says. (iStock)
Similar illnesses have been reported in 28 other states, including neighboring Ohio, where diagnoses have popped up across the Michigan border.
Cases have been climbing since the CDC identified an uptick in infections in mid-June, with illnesses now reported in dozens of states.
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Michigan has now reported more than 1,200 cases and at least 40 hospitalizations. In Ohio, northwest counties have identified more than 500 cases, including at least 306 in Lucas County, according to the latest available local figures.
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Texas has reported at least 48 cases, and illnesses have been identified in numerous other states as health officials investigate the source.
The hallmark symptom of a cyclospora infection is watery, often “explosive” diarrhea that can last for weeks or even months if left untreated, the CDC says.
Other symptoms of cyclosporiasis include severe abdominal cramping, bloating, nausea, fatigue and significant weight loss. (iStock)
Other symptoms include severe abdominal cramping, bloating, nausea, fatigue and significant weight loss.
The official outbreak season for the parasite runs from May 1 through Aug. 31, a window where warmer temperatures historically coincide with a spike in infections, according to the CDC.
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While the infection can sometimes clear up on its own, it frequently requires antibiotics. The CDC advises anyone experiencing symptoms of cyclosporiasis to contact a healthcare provider for testing and treatment.
The CDC, alongside the Food and Drug Administration and state health officials, is actively investigating several multistate clusters, but they have yet to find a cause behind the spread.
Fresh produce should be washed thoroughly before eating, although this may not eliminate the risk of infection, the AP noted. (iStock)
Past infections have reportedly been linked to consuming contamined fruits or vegetables, or being exposed to contaminated irrigation water.
Fresh produce should be washed thoroughly before being eaten, although this may not eliminate the risk of infection, the AP noted.
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Michigan officials recommend purchasing salad mixes or whole heads of lettuce instead of pre-washed, bagged lettuce. Remove two to three leaves from the outer layer of the lettuce head before washing and cook vegetables when possible.
Fox News Digital’s Khloe Quill contributed to this report.
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Washington, DC – GLP-1 weight-loss drugs have become a prevalent part of American healthcare, and the current administration is getting behind the movement.
In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital at the Great American State Fair in the nation’s capital on July 6, CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz voiced his support for the use of GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) medications, such as Ozempic, for appropriate uses.
“I’m a fan of GLP-1 drugs when used correctly,” he said. “They do help people who are overweight lose weight quite effectively. They’re not a replacement for diet and exercise, but they might jumpstart the system so it’s easier for you to use healthier tactics.”
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This is especially helpful for those who may have trouble moving due to joint pain or are experiencing internal dysfunction, Oz said.
Certain GLP-1 drugs are covered by Medicare for overweight candidates with certain conditions, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, and Oz projected the benefits will continue to benefit taxpayers.
Dr. Mehmet Oz is pictured in Washington, D.C., at the Great American State Fair, where he spoke about federal health policy. (Angelica Stabile/Fox News Digital)
“We believe these are so effective in reducing conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes that they’ll actually save money for the federal taxpayer, because [they’re] going to make you healthy enough that you don’t have to consume health services,” Oz said.
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“We think about 70% of all the money we spend on healthcare is caused by chronic conditions, and obesity is the No. 1 driver of all that, so it’s a smart decision.”
Oz recently announced the launch of the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program, which will allow more seniors to access GLP-1 drugs for only $50 a month if they meet qualifying health criteria and receive prior authorization from a doctor.
The doctor expressed support for broadening affordable access to GLP-1 medications for Americans. (iStock)
“There are a lot of overweight people who don’t have high blood pressure, diabetes or other conditions, so they don’t get access to the drug normally,” he said. “We want them to have the ability to use it as well.”
Although these access shifts could boost Americans’ overall health — and in some cases could be lifesaving — Oz noted that there is “no silver bullet” when it comes to these medications.
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“I love the fact that the innovation that’s coming out of pharmaceutical companies is allowing us to save lives and make lives better,” he said. “But the real secret to longevity is eating right, exercising, sleeping, dealing with the stress of your life, finding some purpose in your existence [and] realizing you have agency over the future.”
“These are things that your mom would have told you [and that] you don’t need a doctor to be emphasizing.”
Medicating appropriately, combined with eating right, exercising and staying connected with others, can help make health goals attainable, the doctor said. (iStock)
While GLP-1s may not be a fix-all, combining these medications with foundational health practices “makes a lot of sense,” Oz said.
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“I don’t want people being fat-shamed … I don’t want you feeling guilty that you’re gaining weight even though everyone else around you seems to have figured it out,” he said. “It’s not that simple — our set points for hunger are different. We have different things going on in our lives.”
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“But if you realize how precious you are — the temple of the soul is so valuable. It’s the greatest gift your parents ever gave you, and you take advantage of every tool out there to make it work … which includes using medications when appropriate. That, to me, is MAHA.”
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