What to know
- Toronto remains under an orange air quality warning as wildfire smoke from northwestern Ontario creates hazardous air conditions and reduced visibility, with conditions expected to improve on Friday.
- A lung health expert says poor air quality can cause symptoms such as coughing, shortness of breath, headaches and feeling generally unwell, even in otherwise healthy people.
- People with asthma, COPD, seniors, pregnant people, and young children are at higher risk and should keep medications close, follow their care plans and seek emergency medical attention if symptoms become severe.
- Residents are advised to stay indoors as much as possible, wear a well-fitting N95 mask if they must go outside, and keep windows closed while using air purifiers or HVAC filtration to improve indoor air quality.
As Torontonians face one of the worst air qualities on the planet, a doctor is sharing tips on how residents can stay safe, especially those with respiratory conditions.
Toronto has been under an orange air quality warning since Wednesday morning, with smoke from wildfires in northwestern Ontario leading to poor air quality and reduced visibility in the city. These conditions are expected to clear only on Friday morning.
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Under these conditions, residents are being warned that being exposed to the smokey air can lead to significant health risks for everyone, and particularly those with pre-existing conditions, such as asthma or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
Now Toronto spoke with Dr. Vaibhav Gupta, a Chief Medical Advisor for Lung Health Foundation and a Canadian board-certified thoracic surgeon, about how Toronto residents can protect themselves amid the wildfires.
What are the health risks caused by the poor air quality?
As warned by Environment Canada, heavy smoke conditions lead to health risks for everyone, regardless of their age or pre-existing conditions.
As explained by Gupta, residents can experience shortness of breath, cough, headaches, and overall just feeling unwell, especially if they are exposed to the outdoor air.
Although these conditions come with risks for all residents, the doctor explained that they can be more significant for those with asthma or COPD, as they are already more prone to experiencing difficulty breathing, which can be exacerbated by the poor air quality.
“They often know when their chest feels tighter, or they have difficulty breathing, or they have a cough. Those are really the signs to watch out for, or if they feel generally unwell, because sometimes the signs can be so subtle,” Gupta said.
What to do if you experience symptoms
Those with pre-existing conditions should make sure to have their medications available for use at any given time, whether that’s inhalers or pills prescribed by their doctors.
In addition, Gupta explained that those with asthma or COPD, usually also have a prepared action plan prescribed by their lung health provider, which they should follow in order to stay safe.
Seniors over the age of 65, pregnant people, and infants and children are also at greater risk, and should watch out for any concerning symptoms.
If residents experience any symptoms that feel like a medical emergency, Gupta advises to seek immediate care at an emergency room.
How to prevent risks
In order to reduce risks, Gupta advises residents, especially those at risk, to avoid outdoors exposure as much as possible.
In case they have to go outside, he recommends they use a N95 mask, which can help filter particles in the air and reduce respiratory risks.
“When you’re seeing particles in the air, like you are today, then the concentration of the matter is very high. But wildfires can affect us even when we don’t see particles in the air. They can still harm us,” he said.
“When it’s a day like today, wearing a face mask or an N95 mask can really help filter out the fine particulate matter that triggers the cells in the lungs and in the airways to react and be reactive and tighten, which is what happens in people who have lung issues or reactive airways.”
In addition, the doctor said keeping all windows closed and using air filters or purifiers in addition to residents’ regular HVAC systems can also help maintain air quality indoors.
Residents should also monitor conditions through their phone’s weather apps or the Government of Canada website.
