Beyond coughing: Wildfire smoke’s health risks

Last updated on Apr 16, 2026

Posted on Apr 16, 2026

3 min read

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: We’re living in an area that’s seeing increasing episodes of wildfire smoke. I’m concerned about how it could be affecting our health. Should we be concerned?

ANSWER: As wildfires become increasingly common throughout the U.S. and neighboring Canadian provinces, the smoke from these fires should be taken seriously. Air quality may be affected in those regions and even trigger respiratory health issues thousands of miles away.

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