It’s summer—the season of sunshine, fresh air, and… coughing? Sneezing? A sore throat? If you’re feeling under the weather in June or July, you’re not alone. But is it just a harmless summer cold—or could it be wildfire smoke?
With wildfire smoke drifting across the country and summer viruses making the rounds, it’s no wonder so many people are sniffling, coughing, and wondering what’s going on. These two health hazards can cause surprisingly similar symptoms—but they require different responses.
Here’s how to tell what’s causing that scratchy throat, nagging cough, or lingering fatigue—and how to protect yourself, no matter what’s in the air.
What’s in the Air?
Wildfire Smoke: Wildfires don’t have to be burning in your backyard to affect your health. Each summer, smoke from fires hundreds—or even thousands—of miles away drifts into towns and cities across the country, blanketing communities in haze and pushing local air quality indexes (AQIs) into the red. Even if you’re far from the burn zone, you’re not safe from the dangerous health effects of wildfire smoke.
Whether you’re in the Midwest, Northeast, or any region downwind of major wildfire activity, it’s important to know what symptoms to watch for—and how to protect yourself.
Wildfire smoke is a complex and toxic mix of:
- Fine and ultrafine particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM0.1)
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
- Nitrogen oxides
- Toxic gases released from burned plastics, buildings, and chemicals
- Fungi and mold
Even short-term exposure can trigger symptoms in healthy individuals—and cause serious harm to those with exist095ing health conditions.1
Summer Colds: It might surprise you, but summer colds can be even more stubborn than the sniffles you get in the winter months. Most winter colds are caused by rhinoviruses, but summer colds are often due to enteroviruses—a large group of viruses that tend to spread more easily during warmer months.
Enteroviruses don’t just cause cold-like symptoms; they can also lead to more unusual effects like skin rashes, eye infections (like viral conjunctivitis a.k.a. pink eye), and even gastrointestinal issues. Children are especially susceptible, but anyone can catch a summer cold.23
Similar to other respiratory viruses, enteroviruses spread through:
- Respiratory droplets (from coughs or sneezes)
- Close contact (like hugging or sharing food)
- Contaminated surfaces or hands
“It’s Just Hazy” or “Just a Cold”? Think Again.
The biggest clue often comes from context. If your AQI is high (seeing numbers over 100) and you’ve been outdoors or near open windows, smoke could be the culprit. If someone around you was recently sick or you’ve been traveling, a cold might be more likely.
Pro tip: You can even have both—poor air quality can lower your immune defenses and make you more vulnerable to viruses.
How to Feel Better—No Matter the Cause
If you or someone in your household is experiencing symptoms consistent with wildfire smoke exposure, especially if you’re in an area with high AQI readings, don’t shrug it off. Unfortunately, like most viral infections, there’s no magic pill to cure a summer cold—but there are ways to soothe symptoms and recover more quickly.
- Hydrate well: Both smoke and viruses can dry you out. Add warm temperatures and you have double the risk of dehydration. Drink water, broths, and herbal teas.
- Rest up: Fatigue is your body’s way of asking for downtime. Listen to it.
- Clean your air: Don’t wait until you’re sick. Use an air purifier daily during fire season or viral outbreaks.
- Use natural symptom relief: Steamy showers, honey in tea, saline sprays, and humidifiers all help.
Although enterovirus infections often start like any other cold, they can come with some twists. Symptoms usually appear 3–5 days after exposure and can last up to 10 days. And here’s the kicker: some summer colds tend to linger longer than winter ones and may leave you feeling “off” even after the most obvious symptoms fade.
Protect Yourself Indoors
For Wildfire Smoke: If possible, create a clean room in your home with an air purifier and no access to the outside. Invest in an air purifier built specifically for smoke pollution like the Austin Air HealthMate Plus which uses medical-grade HEPA to capture particulate matter and a mixture of zeolite and activated carbon impregnated with potassium iodide, which traps toxic gases and VOCs from wildfire smoke
Whether you live near the burn zone or far downwind, this purifier is a smart, proactive step for respiratory protection.
For Summer Colds (Especially in Shared Spaces): If you’re stuck inside with a sick family member, like a child attending daycare/day camp—or trying to avoid spreading germs—consider the Austin Air Bedroom Machine. It features Austin Air’s HEPA and activated carbon filtration to reduce allergens, dander, and respiratory droplets plus a fifth stage of filtration, with a HEGA carbon cloth, which can capture airborne viruses.
It’s ideal for close quarters, like shared bedrooms, dorms, or small apartments. In fact, air purifiers have been shown to reduce the rate of infection at daycare centers.
Final Thoughts
Not all summer sniffles are created equal. Whether your symptoms are caused by drifting wildfire smoke or an old-fashioned summer cold, the key is to act fast, protect your environment, and support your recovery.
Stay hydrated. Rest when you need to. And most importantly—breathe clean air.
🟩 For wildfire smoke protection: Choose the Austin Air HealthMate Plus
🟦 To trap airborne viruses: Use the Austin Air Bedroom Machine
Breathe easier. Feel better. And don’t let invisible threats ruin your summer.
REFERENCES
1 Health effects attributed to wildfire smoke (2025 January 30). US EPA. https://www.epa.gov/wildfire-smoke-course/health-effects-attributed-wildfire-smoke.
2 Yes, summer colds are a real thing. (2023 March 8). West Tennessee Healthcare. https://www.wth.org/blog/yes-summer-colds-are-a-real-thing/.
3 What to know about summer colds. (2023 July 8). NewYork-Presbyterian. https://healthmatters.nyp.org/what-to-know-about-the-surge-in-summer-colds/.
