Here are 12 signs you are suffering from poor air quality in the US brought on by Canadian wildfires

Dark smog spread across the eastern United States this week as wildfires raged across Canada released toxic nanoparticles dangerous to human health.

U.S. health officials have urged residents to stay indoors and go out only for absolutely necessary things and shared 12 warning signs you may have inhaled the tiny particles.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns the public about headaches, burning eyes and other health problems that can occur after being outdoors.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, smoke inhalation can cause numerous health effects, including headaches, sinus problems, difficulty breathing, fatigue and asthma attacks

In addition, it is critical to prevent outside irritants from getting inside.

“Be sure to wash off any pollen or anything you bring in from the outside,” Kenneth Mendez, CEO and president of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), told DailyMail.com.

You spend 90 percent of your time indoors. Don’t get the other allergens from outside.’

The smoke has filled the air with tiny particles called PM2.5, about 2.5 micrometers in size.

In comparison, a single human hair is about 70 micrometers in size, and the human eye cannot see anything smaller than 25 micrometers, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

The health impact of a particle concentration of 22 μg/m3 per 24 hours corresponds to approximately one cigarette.

If you must go outside, experts recommend wearing an N95 face mask to filter out pollutants.

Inhaling these particles can cause inflammation in the heart and lungs, which can lead to chronic diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

“What we tell people is to keep an eye on the quality of the outside air because that affects your allergies and asthma,” Mr. Mendez said.

A map of the impact wildfire smoke has had on air quality on the East Coast. Purple parts are considered ‘dangerous’, red is ‘unhealthy’, orange is ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’ and yellow is ‘moderate’

NYC: The Manhattan skyline is seen during sunrise amid hazy conditions due to smoke from the Canadian wildfires on June 8, 2023

However, there are also more direct effects.

Below are signs of exposure to fine particle pollution, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Cough

Smoke and other pollutants can irritate the mucous membranes or the inner lining of the airways.

When this happens, it causes narrowing of the airways and increased mucus production. Your body then has the reflex to cough.

The cough can be either productive (wet), in which mucus rises from the lungs, or dry (non-productive), in which no mucus rises.

Trouble breathing

Smoke and other irritants can also cause damage to air sacs, airways, and the lining of the lungs.

Injured lungs have trouble moving enough air in and out, which can make breathing difficult.

People with conditions such as asthma, COPD and long-term covid are more likely to have more difficulty breathing than others, although this can happen after just a few minutes of exposure.

WASHINGTON, DC: Members of the Marine Corps exercise under a hazy sky near the Lincoln Memorial

WASHINGTON, DC: Smoke from Canadian wildfires casts a haze in front of the Lincoln Memorial at dawn on Thursday

Wheezing

Wheezing is a high-pitched whistling sound that can occur when you try to breathe.

This can happen during exhalation or inhalation.

Wheezing occurs when inflammation causes the airways to narrow anywhere from the throat to the lungs, according to the Mayo clinic.

Asthma attacks

The Asthma and Allergy Network (AAN) estimates that 26 million Americans will be diagnosed with asthma. About one in 12 children has the condition.

Wildfire smoke can cause even people with normally controlled symptoms to experience worsening symptoms.

According to the ON, early signs of an asthma attack include an itchy throat, trouble breathing, and chest pain or tightness.

Tantalizing eyes

The smoke from wildfire can dry out the air and the flying irritants can inflame the eyes.

The eyes have three tear layers: the outer oily layer, the middle watery layer, and the inner mucus layer.

Smoke affects the outer layer, causing the inner layers to dry out. This leads to stinging, burning and red eyes.

PHILADELPHIA, PA: Dangerous smoke descended on the Philadelphia skyline for the second day in a row

Itchy throat

The smoke damage to the airways and lungs can also make your throat scratchy or sore.

The smoky air removes moisture from the throat leaving it normally lubricated. Without that moisture, it becomes dry and irritated.

Walking rose

The nose has a lining of tiny hair-like structures called cilia that keep it free of irritants, bacteria, and mucus.

Smoke inhalation can damage the cilia and cause them to stop functioning. In some cases, this causes excessive mucus production in the nose, resulting in a runny nose.

Irritated sinuses

Damage to the cilia can cause other symptoms similar to sinusitis or a sinus infection.

According to Cleveland Clinic, these include nasal congestion, facial pressure, postnasal drip, ear pressure and fever.

Headache

Sinus blockage and congestion from smoke have been shown to cause headaches.

For example, a study published in January by Headaches: The Journal of Head and Face Pain found a link between wildfires in California and people reporting tension headaches.

Tension headaches are the most common type of headache, resulting in mild to moderate pain that feels like a tight band around the head.

Fatigue

According to the Sleep Foundation, air particles from wildfire smoke can travel to the frontal cortex and cerebellum of the brain. These parts regulate sleep.

Too much smoke also leads to less oxygen flowing into the bloodstream, which constricts the blood vessels.

This requires the heart to work harder, and that increased energy can make you feel tired.

Chestpain

As irritants travel to the airways, you may feel pain or tightness in your chest.

This is due to reduced oxygen supply to the heart.

In addition, excessive coughing from the smoke can make your chest hurt.

Rapid heartbeat

Similar to how reduced blood flow to the heart causes chest pain and exhaustion, it can also result in a faster-than-normal heartbeat.

This is because the heart has to work harder to keep functioning.

A heart rate of more than 100 beats per minute is considered tachycardia, which results in palpitations, chest pain, dizziness and shortness of breath, according to Mayo clinic.