Smoke from wildfires in Canada continues to affect the region, pushing air quality into the unhealthy or worse categories. Pulmonologist Brian Reichardt from HSHS Medical Group spoke about the current air quality issues. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency in Springfield, Illinois, forecasts Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG) conditions for fine particulate matter today. 

Dr. Brian Reichardt explained how poor air quality affects people's health, both in the short term and the long term. The main concern with poor air quality is the respiratory system.

The symptoms of poor air quality can differ depending on a person's underlying health conditions, the duration, as well as the intensity and composition of the smoke.

Poor air quality has a greater impact on certain people, including those over the age of 65, children, and people with respiratory and cardiac conditions.

For more information on air quality and up-to-date Air Quality Index Maps, visit AirNow.gov. For more information about HSHS, visit www.hshs.org.