I liked your article. The blaze went on to destroy multiple homes near Lake Berryessa. After reading your article, I said myself “Food for thought”. A wildfire was burning to the east of town — one of dozens of fires that were sending smoke and ash through communities in hot, dry western states. The rest, and how to stay healthy, is important to understand as the western wildfire season picks up.The distance affects the ability of smoke to “age,” meaning to be acted upon by the sun and other chemicals in the air as it travels. What's in wildfire smoke, and why is it so bad for your lungs? However, during the pandemic, being in an enclosed space with others can create other health risks. But the belief that smudging sage might have spiritual cleansing properties, is a sin.

A friend texted me this week after going for a jog in the foothills near Boise, Idaho, writing: "My lungs are burning … explain what's happening!!!" (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)The advice I gave my friend who had been running while smoke was in the air applies to just about anyone downwind from a wildfire.Stay informed about air quality by identifying local resources for air quality alerts, information about active fires, and recommendations for better health practices.If possible, avoid being outside or doing strenuous activity, like running or cycling, when there is an air quality warning for your area.Be aware that not all face masks protect against smoke particles. The human body is equipped with natural defense mechanisms against particles bigger than PM2.5. Plus: Why masks don't protect from wildfire smoke.Get caught up with the morning's top headlines, the national weather forecast, today's celebrity birthdays and more.If you want to build a fire, you need three things: Ignition, fuel and oxygen. It’s their job to seek out foreign material and remove or destroy it. As I tell my students, if you have ever The really small particles bypass these defenses and disturb the air sacks where oxygen crosses over into the blood. It’s their job to seek out foreign material and remove or destroy it. Some communities in western states have offered “clean spaces” programs that help people take refuge in buildings with clean air and air conditioning. Luke Montrose does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. Luke Montrose, Assistant Professor of Community and Environmental Health, Boise State University However, Dose, frequency and duration are important when it comes to smoke exposure. That combination of high temperatures and elevated levels of particles from a fire can affect even healthy lungs. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)A vehicle drives along Knoxville Road, with flames from the LNU Lightning Complex in the background Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020, in Napa County, Calif. In the context of COVID-19, the best data currently suggests that a cloth mask benefits public health, especially for those around the mask wearer, but also to some extent Establish a clean space. Long-term exposure to wildfire smoke over days or weeks, or breathing in heavy smoke, can raise the risk of Recent evidence suggests that long-term exposure to PM2.5 may make the coronavirus more deadly. Air conditioning should only be operated in the "recirculate" setting. White sage promotes feelings of relaxation and also boosts memory. Enjoy more articles from the Quad City's Most Trusted Information Source.