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Wildfire Smoke Triggers Mysterious Health Issues
18 Dec
Summary
- ER visits for respiratory illness surged 24% post-wildfire.
- Heart attacks rose 46% and general illness visits increased 118%.
- Unexplained abnormal blood test results doubled in a 90-day period.
Researchers have documented the direct health consequences of the January wildfires on Los Angeles County residents, uncovering surprising findings beyond expected respiratory ailments.
Within 90 days of the fires, emergency room visits for respiratory illnesses increased by 24%. Concurrently, general illness visits saw an alarming 118% rise, and heart attacks spiked by 46%. These findings highlight the immediate and severe impact of wildfire smoke on public health.
A peculiar discovery was the more than doubling of abnormal blood test results for general illness during the same 90-day period. Scientists suspect this indicates a biochemical metabolic stress affecting multiple organ systems, a phenomenon not previously documented after major wildfires.
