Wildfires burning across the Los Angeles area have left 11 dead, thousands displaced, and over 10,000 structures destroyed. As authorities struggle to contain the blazes, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has urged those in the area to monitor the local air quality on their weather app, or on airnow.gov. Wildfire smoke, a major source of air pollution, is linked to severe health issues including heart attacks, strokes and lung diseases like asthma. There is also a nascent body of research on their mental health effects, which is beginning to reveal some connections that can help us better
