Dr. Fernando Holguin, a lung specialist and critical care doctor at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital, discussed on Mar. 13 how people can protect themselves from the health risks posed by wildfire smoke. Holguin, who also runs the severe asthma clinic at the hospital and is a professor at the University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine, answered common questions about air quality and safety during wildfires.
Wildfire smoke can be especially dangerous for people with existing lung and heart conditions, as well as children, older adults, pregnant women, and those with chronic illnesses. According to Holguin, “Pollution from fires causes inflammation which narrows passages in our airways. That causes shortness of breath and tightness in the chest.” He explained that wildfire smoke contains gases and tiny particles from burning trees and other materials that can irritate eyes, throat, and lungs.
Holguin said that vulnerable groups—including children whose lungs are still developing—are most at risk for complications when exposed to poor air quality. “The risks are most severe for the extremes in ages (children and older adults) and for people with underlying pulmonary diseases,” he said. He added that cardiovascular patients and people with diabetes or metabolic problems are also particularly vulnerable.
Symptoms from exposure to wildfire smoke may appear immediately or after a delay of several days. Holguin noted that emergency room visits often increase on days with high pollution levels but sometimes there is a lag before symptoms worsen: “You get exposed to high levels of air pollution and there’s a lot of inflammation. We see many people coming in for help three days later.” For those with respiratory illnesses, this delay can be significant.
To reduce risk during smoky conditions, Holguin advised following local air quality reports such as AirNow.gov, staying indoors with windows closed, using HEPA-filtered air purifiers if available, avoiding outdoor exercise if you have underlying health issues, taking prescribed medications consistently, and being prepared to evacuate if necessary. He cautioned against using swamp coolers during poor air quality since they bring outside air indoors.
Holguin emphasized that smokers face higher risks because their lungs already contend with pollutants: “Smokers already are putting an incredible amount of air pollution into their lungs… The combustion of tobacco products or anything biological (like marijuana) will generate particulates… which can cause a lot of inflammation and long-term damage in the lungs.” Children exposed to high levels of pollution may suffer long-term effects due to incomplete lung development.
Regarding masks during wildfires, Holguin recommended staying indoors as the best protection but said tightly fitting N-95 or P-100 respirators could help filter harmful particles outdoors. He also addressed concerns about COVID-19 survivors: ongoing studies suggest these individuals may be more sensitive to smoke due to lingering lung damage.
Holguin encouraged anyone experiencing severe symptoms like difficulty breathing or chest pain to seek immediate medical attention: “If you are ever scared, you should seek help immediately.” He concluded by urging people not to ignore symptoms that could indicate either viral infection or smoke exposure: “If you’re ever in doubt… get tested for other possible viral infections so you can get the best treatment.”
