Wildfire Smoke in Northeast Ohio: How to Protect Yourself When Air Quality Declines
- Dr. Fredrick Peters
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
If you've looked outside recently and noticed hazy skies or smelled smoke in the air, you're not imagining it. Smoke from Canadian wildfires has made its way into Ohio, leading to periods of poor air quality across much of the state.
Although these events are usually temporary, they can have real health consequences—especially for certain groups of people. Fortunately, there are several practical steps you can take to reduce your exposure.
What Is Causing the Poor Air Quality?
The primary concern during wildfire smoke events is fine particulate matter, commonly referred to as PM2.5. These particles are approximately 30 times smaller than the width of a human hair, making them small enough to bypass your body's natural defenses.
Unlike larger particles that become trapped in your nose or throat, PM2.5 can travel deep into the lungs and, in some cases, enter the bloodstream. Research has linked elevated PM2.5 exposure to:
Eye, nose, and throat irritation
Persistent coughing
Shortness of breath
Worsening asthma or COPD
Increased cardiovascular stress
Increased risk of heart attack and stroke in susceptible individuals
Who Is Most at Risk?
Anyone can experience symptoms when air quality becomes poor, but certain individuals are at greater risk, including:
Adults over age 65
Young children
Pregnant women
Individuals with asthma or COPD
People with heart disease
Anyone performing prolonged or vigorous outdoor exercise
Even healthy adults may notice decreased exercise performance or respiratory irritation during significant smoke events.
What Can You Do?
Fortunately, there are several simple strategies that can significantly reduce your exposure.
1. Check the Air Quality Index (AQI)
Before heading outside, check the Air Quality Index (AQI). As AQI values increase, health risks also increase.
A general guide:
Green (0–50): Good
Yellow (51–100): Acceptable for most people
Orange (101–150): Sensitive groups should reduce prolonged outdoor activity
Red (151–200): Everyone should limit prolonged outdoor exposure
2. Modify Outdoor Exercise
Exercise is one of the best things you can do for your health—but during periods of poor air quality, consider moving your workout indoors.
Running, cycling, sports practices, and strenuous yard work all increase breathing rate, causing you to inhale substantially more particulate matter.
Missing or modifying one or two workouts is far better than exposing yourself to high concentrations of wildfire smoke.
3. Keep Indoor Air Clean
One of the most effective strategies is improving your indoor air quality.
Personally, I run portable HEPA air purifiers throughout my home during smoke events. HEPA filters are designed to remove extremely small airborne particles, including much of the PM2.5 found in wildfire smoke.
I also use a high-efficiency MERV-rated furnace filter in my home's HVAC system. A MERV 13 or higher filter can remove a substantial amount of fine particulate matter as air circulates through your heating and cooling system.
Keep windows and doors closed whenever practical until outdoor air quality improves.
4. Use Your Vehicle's Recirculation Setting
Many people don't realize that your vehicle has a simple feature that can reduce smoke exposure.
When driving through smoky conditions, switch your climate control system to recirculation mode. This limits the amount of outside air entering the vehicle and helps reduce the concentration of smoke inside the cabin.
Also remember to replace your cabin air filter according to your vehicle manufacturer's recommendations.
5. Wear an N95 Respirator if Necessary
If you must spend extended periods outdoors when air quality is poor, a properly fitted N95 respirator can significantly reduce your exposure to fine particulate matter.
Cloth masks and standard surgical masks provide far less protection against PM2.5.
6. If You Have Lung Disease, Be Prepared
Individuals with asthma or COPD should:
Keep rescue inhalers readily available.
Follow their healthcare provider's action plan.
Monitor symptoms closely.
Seek medical attention if breathing becomes difficult or symptoms worsen.
The Bottom Line
Wildfire smoke can affect both respiratory and cardiovascular health, even in otherwise healthy individuals. The good news is that these smoke events are usually temporary.
The goal isn't to eliminate all exposure—it's to reduce unnecessary exposure while air quality is poor.
Simple actions such as checking the AQI, moving workouts indoors, using HEPA filtration, installing a quality HVAC filter, closing windows, and using your vehicle's recirculation setting can meaningfully improve the air you breathe.
Taking these precautions for a few days can help protect your lungs, reduce cardiovascular stress, and allow you to return to your normal routine once the air clears.
Dr. Fredrick J. Peters
Associate Professor of Exercise Science
Exercise Physiologist & Health Educator
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