Inhalation Injuries: Lung Damage From Smoke, Chemicals, Pollution and Heat

Inhalation injuries are sudden injuries to the airways and lungs caused by breathing in harmful substances — smoke from fires, chemicals, particle pollution and gases — or extreme heat, a kind of thermal injury. More than half of deaths from fires are due to inhalation injuries.

Symptoms

Symptoms depend on what you breathed in, but often include:

An inhalation injury can worsen an existing heart or lung condition.

Diagnosis and treatment

Your provider may look at your airways with a scope to check for damage, and may order lung imaging, blood tests and lung function tests.

Treatment starts with making sure your airway is open, then oxygen therapy and sometimes medicines; some people need a ventilator. Most people recover, but some are left with lasting lung or breathing problems — more often smokers and people with severe injuries.

Prevention

• At home, practice fire safety: prevent fires, and have a plan in case one happens.
• During wildfire smoke or heavy particle pollution, spend less time outdoors and keep indoor air clean — windows closed and an air filter running.
• If you have asthma, another lung disease or heart disease, follow your provider's advice on medicines and your breathing plan.
• Working with chemicals or gases? Handle them safely and use protective equipment.

Sources

Based on "Inhalation Injuries," MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine; a work of the United States government in the public domain.