How to protect your respiratory health during the fire season and dry air

August and September are known for being the driest months in Brazil. To make matters worse, wildfires are also frequent during this period, especially in the North and Central-West regions of the country, an environmental problem that worsens pollution. Therefore, experts warn that this season requires extra care with your health.

"During the burning and dry season, air quality worsens significantly due to the increase in inhalable particles, such as soot, toxic smoke gases, and dust, which irritate and damage mucous membranes, making us sicker," explains pulmonologist Fernanda Miranda de Oliveira, from Einstein Hospital Israelita in Goiânia.

This dry, polluted air compromises the bronchial tubes and facilitates the entry of viruses and bacteria into the body, leading to a significant increase in hospitalizations for respiratory reasons. "The smoke [ from wildfires ] and dryness create a combination that compromises the airways, worsens chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and causes discomfort even in healthy people," he warns. Children under 5, the elderly, pregnant women, and people with chronic respiratory and heart diseases are among the groups most vulnerable to these effects.

Health impacts can appear immediately or over time. "When we breathe this dry, polluted air from the fires, we experience immediate problems, such as an increase in bronchiolitis and rhinitis, but there are also long-term impacts," warns pulmonologist Eduardo Algranti, coordinator of the Scientific Committee on Environmental and Occupational Respiratory Diseases of the Brazilian Society of Pulmonology and Tisiology (SBPT).

According to Algranti, frequent exposure to this air pollution can even increase the risk of lung cancer. "All fires are harmful, but those in urban environments are even worse. We're talking about the burning of plastic, chemicals, metals, and trash, which adds toxic and potentially carcinogenic pollutants to the air we breathe," explains the SBPT specialist.

Simple measures at home help

Because of these serious health effects, protecting the home environment is essential. Experts advise closing windows during heavy smoke. Ideally, ventilate your home only when pollutants are at their lowest concentration, such as early in the morning or at night. Keeping the environment clean and humid is also a recommended measure to both prevent dryness and reduce soot buildup.

Another recommendation is to moderate your air conditioning use, as these devices further dry out the air. "Humidifiers are very useful, but we can't overdo it. They shouldn't be left on indoors and need to be cleaned frequently to prevent mold growth or exceed the recommended ideal humidity level, which is between 40% and 60%," advises the Einstein pulmonologist. She suggests measures such as distributing wet towels or buckets of water throughout the rooms to humidify the environment in a more controlled manner.

Hydration and exercise care

The best measure, however, is to drink plenty of water. Drinking fluids regularly offsets the effects of dryness and helps the body avoid cardiorespiratory problems caused by dehydration and smoke. It's recommended to drink at least 35 ml of water per kilogram of body weight per day to ensure adequate hydration.

Additionally, it's important to avoid excessive sweating. During extremely hot days, wear light, breathable clothing to help regulate body temperature. Avoid sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and outdoor physical activity, especially if there are wildfires nearby. "Exercise, besides making us sweat excessively, further opens our airways, increasing contact with pollutants, which don't disperse properly without rain," notes Eduardo Algranti. On days with higher smoke concentrations, it's best to wear PFF₂ masks, especially for those in at-risk groups or with pre-existing respiratory conditions.

Even with these measures, it's important to monitor for symptoms of respiratory problems. Signs such as a persistent cough, burning eyes, wheezing, and a feeling of constant fatigue indicate that the respiratory system has been affected by poor air quality. Those with chronic conditions should seek medical attention.

People with asthma, COPD, emphysema, or other conditions that compromise lung capacity need to keep their medications up to date according to their doctor's recommendations and strictly follow the same care guidelines for the general population. It's also recommended to create an action plan for crises and not delay medical care if any worsening occurs.

Source: Einstein Agency

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