With the Caldor fire burning rapidly through parts of El Dorado County and the Dixie fire in Plumas, Butte and Lassen counties now the second-largest in state history, the impact on air quality in the region has been significant.
Health concerns grow as the AQI rises.
UC Davis Health pulmonary experts want everyone to know how to protect their health when its smoky outside.
"The most important thing to do is regularly check the AQI," said Nicholas Kenyon, chief of pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine at UC Davis Health.
The air-quality index (AQI) is reported each day on the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District website.
"It is an estimate of the level of airborne particles caused by wildfires," Kenyon said. "The key numbers to look out for are 101 and 151."
101 is the point at which children, the elderly and those with chronic health conditions need to take extra precautions to protect their health. At 151, everyone needs to take extra precautions.
During the current wildfires, the AQI has, at times, been between 150 and 200 in some parts of the region.
Symptoms related to smoky air
Smoky air can irritate the eyes, nose and throat, even with short-term exposure, according to Kenyon. It also can increase shortness of breath, especially in those with chronic lung diseases like asthma and COPD.
Drink plenty of water to relieve throat irritation. Those with lung conditions should closely monitor their symptoms. Call your doctor if shortness of breath increases. If symptoms worsen and don't respond to medication, don't delay going to an urgent care center or emergency department.
Smoky air can cause some, but not all, symptoms of COVID-19. If you have shortness of breath plus a fever, chills, body aches and/or a loss of your sense of taste or smell, call your physician about getting tested for COVID-19. This list includes many free community testing sites.
