Summer heat and wildfire smoke often arrive together in New Mexico, making outdoor work and play less pleasant. High temperatures and poor air quality can also create serious health hazards, especially for people with breathing problems such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Understanding how summertime wildfire smoke affects your airways is a good first step toward breathing easier in the hot-and-hazy summer months.
How Wildfire Smoke Affects Breathing
Wildfire smoke can carry invisible soot particles. When you breathe them in, your airways can become irritated and swollen. This narrows the breathing pathways, which can trigger flare-ups of asthma or COPD. It’s always a good idea to check the local air quality before spending time outside during the summer.
Even far-away wildfires can create breathing problems when tiny debris floats through the air. Monitor yourself and your family members for signs of smoke exposure, including:
- Frequent coughing or sudden wheezing
- Shortness of breath or trouble catching your breath
- Stinging eyes, a scratchy throat, or a runny nose
Severe dizziness, heavy chest pain, or sudden trouble breathing are signs that you need emergency medical care.
Related: Read “4 Ways to Get Health Insurance Help in Your Community.”
How to Stay Safe Outdoors and In the Home
If you know you’ll be outside when it’s smoky, pack essential items to help you cope:
- Water
- Tissues and hand sanitizer
- A list of your current medications, any chronic conditions, and triggers
- Your health insurance card
- An emergency contact list
- A breathable face covering, such as a buff, face mask, or bandana
- When you’re driving, roll up your windows and set the A/C to recirculate instead of using outside air
When smoke is in the air, health experts recommend staying indoors. Manage indoor air quality with these five tips:
- Keep your windows and doors closed tightly during high-risk days to prevent outside air from getting in.
- If you have central air conditioning, consider using a high-efficiency filter rated MERV-13 or higher to help trap fine debris.
- Set the cooling system to “recirculate” so it doesn’t pull in smoky outdoor air.
- Avoid smoking, especially indoors
- Don’t burn candles or incense on days with poor air quality
Related: Read “New Mexico Sun Safety: How to Protect Your Skin and Eyes This Summer”
Get Covered with Health Insurance
Seasonal health hazards like extreme heat and dense smoke create their fair share of challenges throughout New Mexico. Taking precautions and establishing a relationship with a doctor can help you protect your respiratory health before the peak season.
Having health insurance through BeWell helps lower your out-of-pocket costs of medical care. Health plans available from our carriers cover a wide range of medical services, including:
- Urgent care visits
- Emergency room care
- Chronic disease management
Looking for health insurance? Schedule an appointment with a Certified Assister to talk about your coverage options.
