State health officials said they’ve seen an increase this past week in emergency room visits because of asthma and other respiratory issues as wildfires continue to burn in parts of north Georgia.
“The likelihood is strong that smoke is causing at least part of this,” said Dr. Patrick O’Neal, director of health protection at the Georgia Department of Public Health. “It’s not uncommon to see some increase in respiratory issues that show in November, December every year but this has been higher than normal.”
He said smoke has particulate matter in it that can be very irritating for many people. O’Neal said people should stay indoors as much as possible and avoid heavy exertion for their safety. People who are having flare-ups with chronic bronchitis, asthma or other breathing issues should be in touch with their health care provider, he said.
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