Covid-19, as is known primarily, targets lungs and as such all the habits that trouble the lungs directly increase the chances of Covid besides increasing the effects of it. Let us now see how could smoking affect covid-19 and also know the associated risks of smoking that directly go hand-in-hand with covid.
What To Know About Smoking And Covid-19?
As tobacco smoking is a known risk factor for the majority of respiratory infections without any further saying this also increases the chances of covid-19. Covid-19 same as other respiratory diseases are very much linked to smoking. A recent study conducted by health experts who were conveyed by the World Health Organization (WHO) found that smokers are more supposed to develop covid-19 in comparison to non-smokers.
COVID-19 which is an infectious ailment primarily attacking the lungs poses more threat to the acts that irk the functions of the lungs such as smoking-both active and passive. Smoking weakens lung functions. It makes the lungs and body harder to combat coronavirus and other respiratory disorders.
[Also Read: Tips to prevent lung diseases]
Besides this, it is also a carrier of non-communicative diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and other lung-related diseases thereby making a person more prone to covid-19. When a person’s immunity is weakened with all these ailments due to smoking one easily gets affected with covid.
The researchers since the beginning have been cautioning to be careful with smoking during this pandemic keeping in view the vulnerability of smokers to catch coronavirus quickly.
The WHO which is also particularly worried about the propaganda that says nicotine or tobacco lessens the chances of covid-19 has asked the public to not believe such unscientific rumors.
All the above facts only point out that taking tobacco in the form of smoke only increases the chances of falling prey to the pandemic besides increasing the risks of severe complications associated with covid.
Does Smoking Affect Covid-19 Test?
Although not many studies have been conducted to this extent the conducted studies have found that there are more chances of smoking affecting the covid test. Present and ex-smokers aged between 40 to 49 years were more supposed to test positive for COVID-19 than people who never smoked in the same age group. The studies have found that there is a close relation between nicotine and covid-19 and so people with nicotine smoking habits are more prone to test positive. The study said that smoking increases the chances to test positive for covid-19.
How Could Smoking Affect Covid-19?
As said above covid-19 is primarily an infection that targets the lungs and is the same as coronavirus even smoking casts its effect on respiratory organs such as lungs leading to further complications. When a person who smokes falls prey to covid-19 the body and lungs, in particular, are not in a position to fight the risks and effects thereby leading to more serious conditions that may eventually lead to death. The available data indicates that smoking is linked with improved severity of disease and death in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
The same studies have also found that people who were not smokers and were hospitalized due to covid-19 had more percentage of recovery rate and lessened death ratio.
In the simplest sense, any habits that directly inflict the functioning and health of lungs such as smoking can be a serious threat when one is diagnosed with covid-19.
Risks And Side Effects
The covid-19 has brought new light on habits such as smoking and vaping. Below are the risks and side effects of covid-19 on smokers.
Smokers affected with covid-19 are more prone to get other respiratory diseases such as Pneumonia and ARDS. This chance is more highly in people suffering from other lung diseases.
Even healthy people with no other illnesses such as hypertension and diabetes are more at risk of catching covid-19 if they are smokers.
Covid vaccines and medicines show no effect or less effect on smokers.
The chances of getting other respiratory diseases in covid-19 patients who smoke are high.
To sum up, there is also direct interlink between smoking and covid 19 vaccines as smoking, alcoholism, acute psychological stress, sleeplessness and lack of exercise weaken the immune system thereby making the vaccination procedure futile. Smoking causes lesser antibody responses. Furthermore, the mortality of antibodies is higher in smokers than non-smokers after vaccination.
The above are just the beginnings of how could smoking affect covid 19?
Sudheendra is a passionate blogger for 8 years and holds a Degree in Journalism & Mass Communications. His writings particularly focus on health, medicine, diet & lifestyle. For him, everything that interlinks and relates to health & medical world entices him. His write-ups aim at educating people not by just giving facts but by infusing human touch.
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