A ton of leaves and dry grass started on fire in my yard today. It was so bad that we had to call the fire department. I inhaled one full breath of white smoke. There were no ambulances here and it was just a brush fire. Should I be checked for smoke inhalation? I am coughing and my chest hurts, but I know I've not had a lot to drink today and my chest could hurt from the running and being terrified. Do you think a hospital visit is necessary knowing that the smoke probably wasn't toxic and I only had one breath of it before I got away?
I'm a hypochondriac, hence the question :)
2007-11-05 12:36:16 · 15 answers · asked by M 3 in Health ➔ Other - Health
You should be OK but if you are super worried, call your health insurance nurse line or your local trauma hospital nurse line. They can evaluate you right on the phone as well as tell you what sorts of things you should do to get yourself feeling better.
I would definately get a huge glass of water and start catching up with your water consumption. Being both dehydrated and smoked is for anchovies, not for people!
2007-11-05 12:41:49 · answer #1 · answered by joanie m 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The first person is just one of those over reactive people that are taking over this country.
Anyway, I would certainly not worry about it yet. A smoker inhales more smoke in one cigarette. If things get worse, by all means use your best judgement, but I would suggest waiting a few days to see if you're throat starts to feel better. I will tell you in advance, it will probably feel really bad first thing in the morning, but it's normal.
2007-11-05 20:46:49 · answer #2 · answered by jxr182 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think you should be ok. If you get shortness of breath then you should go to the ER. If you knew what you breathe in with every breath you would not worry too much about smoke from a grass fire. Background radiation, pollution, toxic chemicals, radon gas from the ground. It would really scare you.
2007-11-05 20:40:24 · answer #3 · answered by casey 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The cough and chest discomfort does worry me. It wouldn't hurt to just get checked out.
2007-11-05 20:39:35 · answer #4 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well if they were burning anything poisonous like poison ivy or oak or sumac or oleander i would worry otherwise i have breathed in a lot of smoke and nothing has happened unless you were asthmatic then you'd be going if your chest hurts it could be that it its sensitive to smoke and other irritants
2007-11-05 20:43:19 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You might need to see a doctor. It is better to be safe than sorry. If your lungs were injured, they will slowly fill up with fluid and literally cause you to drown. If you have pain and you're coughing you may have injured yourself.
2007-11-05 20:42:00 · answer #6 · answered by Dave124 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you live with your parents, tell them.
If you live on your own, and dont feel right then I would go to the hospital and have yourself checked out. Tell them what happened with the fire.
It is better to be safe than sorry...Good luck.
2007-11-05 20:44:30 · answer #7 · answered by phoenixlstilwell 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It probably wouldn't hurt to get checked if your having chest pain.
2007-11-05 20:39:32 · answer #8 · answered by Joanne D 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You will be fine.Its just that the smoke has been something different and your lungs are making sure they clean it out.just give it a little while to settle.
2007-11-05 20:40:57 · answer #9 · answered by boldyman2 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't think you have anything to worry about, you are still alive. Relax and drink some fluids
2007-11-05 20:42:30 · answer #10 · answered by inflamedzero2002 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋