Heart attack risk increases with poor air quality, local cardiologist say

Fargo, North Dakota – Events were canceled and public pools closed over the weekend throughout the valley due to the air quality which has turned to extremely dangerous, sending one man to the hospital.

Local cardiologist sends out warning to those with heart disease and underlying health conditions because the smoke is expected to stick around for several days.

“It inevitably means there’s going to be more heart attacks,” an Interventional Cardiologist for Essentia Health, Dr. Rory Farnan said.

He urges staying at home as much as possible or wearing masks when outside. Inhaling wildfire smoke, according to Dr. Farnan, is similar to smoking cigarettes, the particles inhaled are transferred to the heart, creating short-term complications such as angina and heart attacks.