Why wildfire smoke can lead to headaches

Inhaling the smoke from wildfires can cause an instant headache, according to the Center for Disease Control and Preventionand short-term exposure to particulate matter from wildfires has been linked to a increase in emergency room visits for headaches.

Researchers aren’t entirely sure why wildfire smoke causes headaches, but one reason may be that it may alter the sensitivity of certain neurons, which in turn may increase headache risk, said Dr. Raj Fadadu, a researcher at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine who has studied the health effects of wildfire smoke.

Wildfire smoke can lead to lower oxygen levels if you have an underlying lung condition, such as asthma, that can contribute to headaches, said Dr. Panagis Galiatsatos, a physician of pulmonary and critical care medicine at Johns Hopkins Medicine. Inhaling smoke from wildfires can also lead to inflammation, which in turn can cause headaches.

If you’re outside in an area with poor air quality and you feel a headache coming on, that’s most likely a sign you should go indoors, Dr Fadadu said. To ward off headaches — and any other effect of smoke — limit the amount of time you spend outdoors, he said, and try to optimize the quality of your indoor air. Having access to an air purifier, such as one with a HEPA filter, can help. You should also stop smoking or vaping.

If you must go outside, consider wearing a tight-fitting mask, such as an N95. While wearing a mask indoors isn’t typically recommended to reduce smoke exposure, donning a mask can reduce your risk of breathing in polluted air if you believe you’re experiencing poor air quality, said Dr. Fadadu.

The most effective headache treatment can vary from person to person, but over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol or Advil can help. Staying hydrated is also critical, said Dr. Fadadu. If you can, try not to look at screens while your headache persists; In any case, consider reducing the brightness of your screen, which can ease the strain on your eyes. If your headaches don’t respond to at-home treatments, or become more intense, you may want to go to an emergency room or emergency room, he added. A doctor can prescribe stronger medications to better control the pain.

If you have underlying lung problems and experience headaches after exposure to wildfire smoke, consider testing your oxygen levels and contacting your doctor, said Dr. Galiatsatos.

There’s another possible reason for your burning smoke headache: stress. A growing body of research shows that environmental disturbances negatively impact mental health, and stress can contribute to this tension headachewhich are mild, throbbing headache usually felt on both sides of the head.

The anxiety people may feel when looking at the orange haze, or judging whether to put on a mask before leaving their home, can itself contribute to headaches – especially on the East Coast, where people are not used to grappling with the tangible impact of wildfire smoke, said Dr. Fadadu.

“That ecological stress that we see with wildfires is certainly a real phenomenon that many people experience,” said Dr. Fadadu.