Extreme heat widens blood vessels, flushes fluid out of the bloodstream, forcing the heart to pump too much blood per minute to cool you, resulting in dehydration. Ultrafine particulate matter produced by trees and shrubs incinerated by wildfires penetrates deep into the lungs, infiltrating the bloodstream, triggering inflammation and reduced lung function, and into the brain, where exposure to particulate matter appears to contribute to dementia, cognitive decline and stroke.
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