Smoke irritates allergies

A thin layer of smoke blankets the Valley due to multiple wildfires burning in the Central and Southern Okanagan.

Vernon pharmacist Jodi Cunningham says it doesn't take too many days of smoky skies for people to start coming in with allergies.

"When we have smokier skies from forest fires and things like that in the summer, certainly people who have chronic illnesses are more at risk," she said. "Especially people with respiratory conditions or cardiovascular conditions. People with asthma, COPD, emphysema, those type of things are probably most significant."

People with asthma and those type of conditions should make sure that they have medication on hand for their symptoms."

As of now, the air quality rating isn't nearly as high as it was most of last summer but it's certainly getting there.

You might be a healthy person but don't be alarmed if you notice the affects wildfire smoke has on your health.

"Even healthy people can obviously experience symptoms too when there are really smoky skies," Cunningham said, but she says elderly and infants still get allergies the worst.

"Elderly people and infants are more at risk for symptoms due to poor air quality, often times elderly people have more chronic health conditions and their lung capacity sometimes is reduced so they are certainly at higher risk."

Cunningham recommends people with severe allergies stay inside or go somewhere with well-filtered air.

Head on down to your doctor or local pharmacist to learn tips or get treatments for your allergies.

Environment Canada has issued a special air quality statement for the Okanagan.

The alert impacts: Kelowna, West Kelowna and Peachland; South Okanagan including Penticton, Summerland, Naramata, Keremeos, Oliver and Osoyoos; North Okanagan; Kinbasket including Kinbasket reservoir south of Valemount; and Yellowhead including McBride and Valemount and all communities within the southern half of the Robson Valley.

-With files from Rob Gibson