Respiratory symptoms are common to wildfire smoke exposure. These include dry cough, sore throat, and difficulty breathing.
- Contact your healthcare provider/doctor if you are experiencing symptoms.
- If you have a medical emergency from smoke, you should call 911 or go to the hospital emergency room immediately.
Know the symptoms
Mild symptoms
These symptoms may resolve when the air clears.
- Eye, nose or throat irritation
- Coughing
- Headaches
Severe problems
Seek medical attention if symptoms worsen.
- Difficulty breathing, including asthma attack
- Wheezing or persistent cough
- Irregular heartbeat, chest pain or fatigue
People with asthma or breathing issues are at higher risk for severe symptoms. Talk to your medical provider to create a plan for treatment of your symptoms when it’s smoky.
Who is at risk?
Some people are at increased risk from the health effects of wildfire smoke.
- People 65+
- People under 18
- People who are pregnant
- People with diabetes
- People with heart or lung disease
- People who live, work or are active outdoors
People with certain chronic health conditions may be more likely to have serious health effects from wildfire smoke.
- Heart disease
- Lung disease, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Understand the health risks of breathing wildfire smoke
Wildfire smoke contains contaminants that can harm your health.
- Fine particles
- Gases
- Heavy metals
- Other toxic chemical compounds
Wildfire smoke can affect the lungs, heart, and other organs.
- Breathing smoke can lead to asthma attacks and make COPD or other lung conditions worse.
- It can also worsen heart failure and increase the risk of heart attacks and death.
- Children and people who are pregnant breathe more and their heart works harder. This makes them more susceptible to the adverse effects of wildfire smoke.
Babies are especially at risk for health effects from exposure to wildfire smoke. If you are pregnant and not breathing well because of the smoke, your baby is not either. In particular, babies could be born early and too small. It is especially important for people who are pregnant to take precautions to limit exposure to wildfire smoke. Talk to your doctor for more information.
Wear a mask if you have to go outside
Going outside when smoke is in the air is not recommended. If you have to go outside, protect your health and wear a mask or respirator.
Oregon Health Authority recommends wearing a mask/respirator with:
- An N, P or R designation
- An efficiency rating of 95, 99 or 100
Avoid the following masks as they have not been shown to prevent smoke exposure:
- Surgical masks
- Bandana
- Common dust masks
- Cloth or towel
KN95 masks/respirators are no longer recommended to protect from smoke exposure.
Take care of your mental health
Smoke exposure can increase stress and harm mental health.
For support, call the Disaster Distress Helpline 1-800-985-5990.
- Crisis counseling for people in emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster
- Information on how to recognize distress and its effects on individuals and families
- Tips for healthy coping
Coping with the Stress of Wildfire Smoke (EPA)