HAMPTON ROADS, Va. (WAVY) — With deteriorating air quality and oppressive heat over the next few days, doctors are advising people to take precautions, especially those with respiratory problems.
How to protect yourself from the bad air caused by wildfires
Dr. Xian Qiao, a pulmonologist with Sentara Healthcare, said the particulates of smoke are much smaller than a human hair but pack a big punch.
“When you breathe that in, it basically bypasses your nose and your throat, and then can go directly into the air sacs in your lung,” Qiao said. “So it’s a much bigger effect than your typical pollution.”
The smoke that has begun to blanket the region is wafting down from wildfires in Canada and Minnesota. For those with allergies, it may seem like the smoke is making them worse. But Dr. Eric Karlin of Allergy Partners of Hampton Roads said it’s the heat that’s supercharging what causes the allergies to begin with…