Life expectancy once you're middle-aged has gone up quite modestly: https://ourworldindata.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Life-e.... For someone my age (late 30s), life expectancy has only gone up by about 13 years since 1850.
Citation needed for the "just fine" claim. Heating options were a lot more limited in the past for many people. If your choice is between freezing to death soon or making it through the winter but doing long term serious damage to your health, you'll pick the later, but it has hard to call that "just fine".
> Health effects of wood smoke
> The biggest health threat from smoke is from fine particles, also called fine particulate matter or PM2.5. These microscopic particles can get into your eyes and respiratory system, where they may cause burning eyes, runny nose, and illnesses, such as bronchitis.
> Fine particles can make asthma symptoms worse and trigger asthma attacks. Fine particles can also trigger heart attacks, stroke, irregular heart rhythms, and heart failure, especially in people who are already at risk for these conditions.
https://www.epa.gov/burnwise/wood-smoke-and-your-health#heal...
I never really thought about the possible harm, but the above video is great. It’s originally from a Sam Harris essay.