Air quality may lead to worsened respiratory symptoms, locals should monitor outdoor activities
With smoke making its way into Saskatchewan from the Alberta wildfires there are some things locals should keep in mind when outside.
Dr. Mandiangu Nsungu, medical health officer for the Prairie North Health Region (PNHR) said the smoke is something everyone should monitor.
“Especially those with pre-existing heart conditions or respiratory conditions like COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) or asthma. The very young and those who are elderly are the ones who should particularly monitor those situations because the smoke in the air can worsen the conditions,” Nsungu said. “Even people who are healthy; when the smoke reaches a certain concentration they may experience signs like irritation of the throat or eyes, headaches and sometimes shortness of breath.”
A tip to avoid feeling any smoke symptoms is to reduce strenuous outdoor activities.