Wildfire smoke effects on your body can last for years

Breathing wildfire smoke during a long-lasting event can leave you with chest tightness, shortness of breath and a cough for years. Wheezing can last up to nine years, according to one study. Children, pregnant women, older adults and people with pre-existing conditions could take even longer. The good news: Most healthy people who catch only a brief whiff of smoke bounce back within hours to days.