The Chronic Truth

Wildfire Smoke, Rising Temperatures & the Chronic Health Crisis Nobody's Connecting the Dots On

July 17, 2026Β·21 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

Dr. Debra Hendrickson is a pediatrician in Reno, the fastest-warming city in the U.S., and the author of The Air They Breathe. She joins Kim Nash to talk about something most chronic illness patients and caregivers aren't warned about: how common medications impair your body's ability to cope with heat, and how rising temperatures and wildfire smoke are quietly compounding the health burden for anyone already managing a chronic condition. Practical, urgent, and packed with information you can act on today.             CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS  00:00 Meet Dr. Debra Hendrickson: A Pediatrician in America's Fastest-Warming City 03:27 Wildfire Smoke, Asthma, and Why Children Are Especially Vulnerable 06:51 The Story Behind The Air They Breathe 08:59 Guidance for Physicians: Proximal vs. Distal Climate Health Risks 10:53 Practical Adaptations: Air Filters, Masks, AQI, and Heat Safety for Kids 14:08 Medications That Affect the Body's Ability to Handle Heat 17:18 Protecting Kids in Car Seats and Pregnant Moms from Heat Risk 19:38 Where to Find Dr. Hendrickson and The Air They Breathe CONNECT & RESOURCESDr. Hendrickson:  🌐 Website: debrahendrickson.com (free downloadable handout on heat and wildfire smoke adaptations; contact form) πŸ“š Book: The Air They Breathe β€” available on Amazon  The Chronic Truth Podcast: πŸŒ Website: chronictruthpodcast.com πŸ“± Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast πŸ“˜ TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast πŸ’¬ Share Your Story: TestimonialsπŸ“‹ Community Survey: SurveyProduction Partner: Podcast Mechanic

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