Exploring the Impacts of Smoking During COVID-19 and Beyond
Smoking has been identified as a significant risk factor for more severe COVID-19 symptoms and worse outcomes. This is due to the damage smoking inflicts on the lungs and the impairment of the immune response, making individuals more vulnerable to respiratory infections like COVID-19 and leading to more severe disease progression.
Smoking compromises lung function and immune efficiency, hindering the body's ability to combat the coronavirus effectively. As a result, smokers tend to experience more severe COVID-19 infections and are more likely to require hospitalization due to respiratory complications.
Smoking is linked to various health conditions such as hypertension, coronary artery disease (CAD), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, and cancers—all of which increase vulnerability to severe COVID-19 outcomes. Studies show smokers with COVID-19 have a higher risk of death compared to non-smokers, partly due to pre-existing health issues exacerbated by smoking.
Although evidence is mixed on whether smokers are more likely to contract COVID-19, behavioral factors like frequent hand-to-mouth contact while smoking may increase exposure risk. Additionally, smoking damages tiny air sacs called "alveoli" within the lungs, affecting breathing and increasing the risk of respiratory diseases. Consequently, smoking may increase a person's chances of contracting the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19.
In contrast, one large multinational study noted an unexpected finding that current smoking was associated with a protective effect regarding long COVID development. However, this observation is not consistent with the bulk of evidence highlighting smoking's harms on COVID-19 severity and recovery.
Quitting smoking is the most important step a person can take to improve their health, according to the British Heart Foundation. Quitting smoking reduces the incidence and severity of lung infections, and it also helps reduce the risk of contracting the SARS-CoV-2 virus, leading to severe COVID-19.
Joining online support groups can be beneficial for people trying to quit smoking. Considering nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), such as gums, patches, and inhalers, can also help in quitting smoking. Exercising or keeping busy can help keep cravings at bay when quitting smoking. Throwing away all cigarettes, ashtrays, and other smoking paraphernalia can aid in quitting smoking.
Quitting smoking reduces the risk of various diseases that can worsen the outlook for COVID-19, including high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, COPD, and tumors. It also reduces the risk of smoking-related respiratory conditions. People with COPD have worse COVID-19 outcomes compared to those who do not have COPD.
In summary, smoking worsens COVID-19 severity primarily by compromising lung health and immune defenses and increasing comorbidities that worsen patient prognosis. Quitting smoking is crucial for improving health outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Public health advice advocates smoking cessation to improve recovery and reduce the risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes.
Smoking's detrimental impact on lung health and immune response increases the risk of contracting the SARS-CoV-2 virus, leading to more severe COVID-19 outcomes (COVID-19, smoking, SARS-CoV-2). Smoking has been linked to various chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, COPD, and cancers, all of which increase vulnerability to severe COVID-19 symptoms (chronic diseases, smoking, COVID-19). Quitting smoking can potentially reduce the risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2 and help mitigate its effects, improving health and wellness during the pandemic (quitting smoking, health and wellness). Mental health professionals suggest joining online support groups and considering nicotine replacement therapy to aid in quitting smoking (mental health, online support groups, nicotine replacement therapy). Adhering to a balanced diet and regular fitness and exercise routines can further support respiratory health and mental well-being during the quitting process (nutrition, fitness and exercise, mental health).
