By Dr. Christopher Lepisto

a 3-min read

Recently, I asked my men’s group if any of them could feel the effects of the significant wildfire smoke we have been having in Western Colorado. As we talked about the health effects of smoke and how we were feeling, it dawned on all of us that to some degree, we were all affected. 

If you’re anything like the healthiest of my patients, I’ll bet if you stopped to consider how you have been feeling over recent weeks in the Grand Valley, you’d notice that you have been having itchier eyes, a stuffy nose, a head pressure increase bordering on (or becoming) a headache, and a drag on your energy. You might also have noticed sinus pain, breathing issues, sleep disruption, or more.

When considering how reactive someone might be to smoke, I look at the total load on the body. I like the “full barrel” analogy, that we have a barrel inside of us that fills with environmental exposures like chemical/heavy metal exposures in jobs or hobbies, toxins in the home, perfumes, solvents, paints, stains, cleaners, pollen/dust/dander exposures by living in a valley, car exhaust, agricultural burning, food allergies, prescription or over-the-counter medications, the amount of time spent outside vs inside, and even the silver (mercury) amalgam fillings in our teeth, which release mercury with any stimulation. When you stack on situational stress, you can see how smoke is just a tipping point. You can check a current smoke forecast, such as the excellent Canadian website firesmoke.ca/forecasts/current (credit Motus, my excellent business consultants), to get a sense of how much upcoming smoke exposure you might expect.

Some barrels are smaller than others and some people have trouble clearing their barrels via our natural detoxification mechanisms. When anyone’s barrel gets full, every additional exposure causes symptoms like headaches, fatigue, nausea, sinus or lung issues. The most significantly affected people can even react strongly to small exposures of perfume, the detergent aisle of the supermarket, diesel exhaust, or cigarette smoke. These people are “multiple chemically sensitive” and the key to recovery is draining the barrel via detoxification, while reducing the amount of exposure, ideally.

What can be done to help our bodies deal with this burden? 

I have additional training in environmental medicine, and this is where I can help. In my practice, I start by identifying and treating the cause of your health issues, specific and tailored for you. In other words, 10 people who are suffering from wildfire smoke need 10 different treatment plans. I do a thorough physical examination, reviewing any existing labs, your diet, medications, supplements, family and environmental history, and gain a big picture of your health. I draw and run full blood panels to gain data points, and I might check heavy metal levels via blood, hair or urine. Only then will I initiate a custom treatment plan.

In a series of treatment visits, I will make several fundamental recommendations to help you start feeling better. Taking a food-first approach with nutrition and hydration, I’ll prescribe specific foods based on your body’s need. I’ll add natural herbs or supplements to support your recovery, talk about reducing “obstacles to cure” such as using an air filter, improving your glutathione (antioxidant) status, discuss nasal rinses or hydrotherapy (hot and cold water), or even recommend getting out of town for a few days to see how your respond. 

Key to your recovery is creating an immediate plan for relief, with a long-term focus on re-establishing the foundation of your health.  When you are ready for someone to put the whole picture together for you, give me a call. I’ll help you get you back to better energy and the outdoor activities that you love.

(970) 250-4104