Overview: A troubling link between wildfires and heart health
New research released after the Palisades and Eaton wildfires in Los Angeles reveals a concerning uptick in heart-related emergencies. In the first 90 days following these devastating fires, emergency room visits for heart attack symptoms surged at Cedars-Sinai, one of the region’s leading medical centers. The study’s findings suggest that extreme wildfire events can extend their impact beyond immediate smoke exposure, potentially triggering cardiac stress that leads to more heart attacks and related emergencies.
What the study found
The analysis focused on Cedars-Sinai, a major referral hospital serving a broad population across Los Angeles. Researchers reported a 46% increase in ER visits for heart attack symptoms during the first 90 days after the Palisades and Eaton fires, compared with baseline periods before the fires. While the data do not prove causation, the timing aligns with intensified smoke exposure, poor air quality, displacement, heightened stress, and disruptions to routine medical care—all factors that can influence heart health.
Air quality and physiological stress
Wildfire smoke is known to impair cardiovascular function, even for individuals without diagnosed heart disease. Particulate matter in smoke can trigger inflammatory responses and raise blood pressure, encouraging conditions ripe for heart attack in vulnerable patients. The Palisades and Eaton fires released a substantial plume of smoke, drifting over densely populated neighborhoods and complicating daily activities for weeks. The study’s authors emphasize that sustained air quality issues—even after the visible flames are gone—may continue to affect heart health as residents resume normal routines with lingering exposure.
Secondary factors: disruption and stress
Beyond air pollution, the fires disrupt access to care, with clinics and routines disrupted by evacuations and road closures. The psychological toll of displacement, loss of homes, and uncertainty can amplify stress hormones that temporarily raise heart rate and blood pressure. For some people with chronic conditions such as hypertension or diabetes, stress and missed medications can precipitate emergency events. The study underscores the need for wildfire preparedness that includes maintaining continuity of care and ensuring timely treatment for high-risk individuals even amid evacuations.
Implications for public health policy
Public health officials and hospital systems can take several lessons from these findings. First, wildfire response plans should integrate cardiovascular risk communication, encouraging residents—especially those with preexisting conditions—to monitor symptoms and seek prompt care during and after smoke events. Second, improving air quality monitoring and issuing timely advisories can help minimize exposure in the most at-risk populations. Third, healthcare providers may need to adjust outreach and pharmacy logistics during evacuations to prevent gaps in essential medications, which can reduce downstream cardiac events.
What this means for residents of Los Angeles
For communities in wildfire-prone regions, the study highlights the importance of protecting heart health during and after fires. Practical steps include staying indoors with filtered air when air quality is poor, wearing appropriate masks during smoke events, maintaining prescribed medications, and having a plan to access emergency services quickly in case of chest pain or other warning signs of a heart attack. Local leaders can also invest in communication platforms that deliver urgent health advisories and ensure shelters or clinics remain accessible, even when streets are closed.
Future research directions
The Cedars-Sinai study adds to a growing body of evidence linking environmental crises to cardiovascular risk. Researchers aim to investigate long-term heart health outcomes after wildfires and to identify which subgroups are most vulnerable. By comparing multiple wildfire seasons and cross-referencing air quality data with hospital admissions, scientists hope to develop targeted interventions that reduce sequelae in future incidents.
Bottom line
While more work is needed to establish a definitive causal relationship, the observed 46% surge in heart attack symptom-related ER visits after major Los Angeles wildfires signals a pressing public health issue. As climate-related disasters become more frequent, integrating cardiovascular risk mitigation into wildfire response plans will be essential to safeguarding community health.
