Milwaukee respiratory doctor discusses air quality health risks

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Southeast Wisconsin is continuing to see the effects of the wildfire smoke from Canada.

“Worsening of the air quality index is something we’re seeing more often,” Medical College of Wisconsin Chief of Pulmonary Critical Care and Sleep Medicine Dr. Julie Biller said.

All of Wisconsin is under an air quality alert until Saturday afternoon.

“The vulnerable populations tend to be the very young and then older people,” Biller said. “It’s really important, especially people who have health problems, they should know what they can and cannot do safely.”

Dr. Biller says those with underlying chronic medical problems like asthma, COPD, heart disease, and some forms of kidney disease can be impacted by the bad air quality.

“I see people in my clinic, and they tell me that they don’t feel as well because of the air quality,” Biller said.

Dr. Biller recommends running your air conditioning 24 hours a day so that none of the air gets inside.

“The air quality has been bad at night and during the day, so I’d say keep your air conditioning on,” Biller said.

Marge Reince was at the Wilson Park Senior Center on Friday; she has pulmonary hypertension and can sometimes struggle to breathe.

“Not good, no, for breathing,” Reince said. “You’re afraid you’re going to get the smell inside the house.”

Others spending time inside the senior center are keeping an eye on the air quality.

“I want to keep safe, I don't want to be breathing it all in,” Betty Leiphart said.