25 years because of the wildfire smoke 20 years ago maybe 20 to 30 days of the year you would expect to have coverage of wildfires now its about 100 said dr kari nadeau john rock professor of climate science and population studies and chair environmental health at harvard university and allergy asthma and immunology clinical specialist who currently practices in both california and massachusetts ozone in particular can make asthma worse but it has also been shown to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease increase the risk of stroke and increase the risk of premature birth dr nadeau said people with preexisting lung disease like asthma and copd definitely can experience exacerbations that require them to use more medication to open their airways and it can also lead to them going to the emergency department or even getting hospitalized said dr john balmes professor emeritus of pulmonary and critical care at the university of california san francisco and a spokesperson for the american lung association americans can learn more about the air quality in their own communities by visiting the epa website airnowgov or download the airnowgov app suraj patel md a combined internal medicine and pediatrics resident at mcgovern medical school at uthealth in houston is a contributor to the abc news medical unit