Smoking – The Unknown Gateway to the Coronavirus

The novel Coronavirus is still making headlines five months after the first outbreak infected thousands of people in Wuhan and other towns in China. As the infection spread globally, so did international responses on trying to control the outbreaks. This virus primarily invades your respiratory system, causing fatalities due to pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). As this virus affects your respiratory system, those with already compromised respiratory systems must stay alert and try to minimize social contact to prevent infections.

What does smoking or tobacco use have to do with the Coronavirus?

Tobacco use is one of the leading causes of respiratory diseases including COPD, TB and lung cancer, killing over 8 million people around the world every year. According to the WHO, smokers are twice as likely to develop a severe form of COVID-19 compared to non-smokers. Smoking is also a major risk factor for other diseases such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes. These diseases weaken your immune system and make you more susceptible to infections such as the coronavirus and other infectious diseases.

How can the virus spread through smoking?

Using waterpipes (Hookahs) or other devices used for smoking that can be shared can cause the disease to transfer from one person to another. Buying cigarettes from a vendor that is infected can also transfer the disease to you as you hold the cigarette butt and put it in your mouth. If you go out to smoke, you can also come in contact with infected people, raising your chances of getting infected yourself.

What can I do to stop smoking?

Quitting smoking is difficult, but nicotine replacement therapies such as gums and patches can help you quit today. The WHO recommends using a combination of supportive therapies such as joining a counselling session, mobile text-messaging programs and nicotine replacement therapies to effectively quit smoking for good.

How will I benefit from not smoking?

Quitting smoking will reduce your chances of getting infected. This will occur as your body will get healthier and your immune system will get a major boost. The moment you quit smoking, your blood pressure and heart rate will reduce. Within a day, your carbon monoxide levels will drop to near-normal. Within a fortnight, your lung function will begin to increase. Within 9 months, you will see a marked reduction in incidents of coughing and shortness of breath.

This World No-Tobacco Day, take a pledge to stop smoking for good and help yourself and your family stay safe from the Coronavirus and other life-threatening diseases. Sanrai is committed to your good health and is there for you in times of need. With their impressive portfolio of innovative devices, Sanrai can help you and your family sleep better, breathe better and stay healthy for life.