Have you been smoking all your life and in exchange polluting the environment? Well, mother nature has no mercy for you with the current COVID-19 outbreak and among the elderly and those whose immunity has been comprised by pre-existing conditions smokers should also consider themselves at very high risk.
Smokers, according to the head of a Turkish anti-addiction group, are 14 times more predisposed to COVID-19 infections compared to those that do not smoke which means, when the elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions are isolated to minimize their chances of catching COVID-19, smokers too should be isolated.
Professor Mucahit Ozturk, president of the anti-addiction group Turkish Green Crescent, on 16th April 2020 urged those who smoke or intoxicate themselves with any addictive substance to quit to protect not only themselves but their loved ones too.
“Using tobacco and tobacco products increases the risk of catching the coronavirus, therefore, avoiding all addictive substances plays an important role in protecting ourselves against the virus,” Professor Mucahit said.
Professor Mucahit noted that smoking weakens the immune system and has negative impacts on coronavirus treatment.
“A weak immune system poses a threat to your health since it delays the treatment process and makes treatment difficult during the epidemic, even if you occasionally use addictive substances,” Professor Mucahit said noting the dangers of smoking for both first-party and second.
“Smoking can cause damage to the lungs and block the cough reflex so viruses and bacteria could stick to the airways and lungs, which could lead to serious infections, “Professor Mucahit said.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has been urging smokers to stop, and if they must, seclude themselves to avoid placing the lives of those around them in danger.
The WHO organization has noted several times that smokers are more vulnerable to the virus as their fingers are in contact with the lips, which increases the possibility of hand-to-mouth transmission and also as most of the smokers share their cigarettes.
Smokers are also likely to die from COVID-19 according to research carried out by Chinese doctors who have also been cited by the European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, saying acute smokers are at more at risk of dying than the elderly people.
“The human body is programmed to recover from the moment you stop smoking,” Ozturk said urging smokers to take up the opportunity and chose a healthy life for the sake of themselves and their loved ones.
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