Medical Experts: Smokers At Higher Risk Of Suffering Severely From Coronavirus

It is a known fact that smoking can lead to many health complications. In a recent report from lung disease experts, a warning was issued that there could be a possible link between smoking and being susceptible to the deadly disease.

Source: malay mail

Ireland’s chief medical officer, Dr Tony Holohan recently made a worrying discovery, saying that previously healthy people have died from the coronavirus and smokers may be at higher risk, according to reports from Independent.

Researchers in China and the United States have released reports on a new analysis of the first 8,000 cases of the coronavirus, discovering that men are more likely to be diagnosed with the disease and experience the most severe symptoms because of the bias that Chinese men are more likely to be heavy smokers. 

Source: independent

But this bias isn’t the sole indicator that smokers are at higher risk of dying from the disease, it’s also proven through the history of serious outcomes smokers have experienced from previous viral outbreaks similar to the coronavirus, such as SARS and MERS.

According to Telegraph, Gisli Jenkins, a renowned respiratory disease expert in the UK said that smokers had high rates of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which refers to a form of lung damage that place people at higher risk of respiratory illnesses such as Co-vid19.

“They [smokers] are also more likely to get infections, the reason being that smoking will affect your defences so you’re susceptible to both viral and bacterial infections,” added Dr Sanjay Agrawal, chair of the Royal College of Physicians’ Tobacco Advisory Group.

Source: telegraph

The medical expert added that research indicates smokers are twice as likely to get pneumonia as compared to non-smokers. Nonetheless, he took the opportunity to remind the public that reduced risk of being infected by the coronavirus was just one of the many health benefits that you could have from quitting.

“The bottom line is there’s never a bad time to quit. If you quit smoking today, you will reduce your risk of picking up the disease and in two to three months, you will benefit.”

You know what to do to minimise your risk of getting infected. Stay safe and healthy guys! 

Also read: Researchers: Coronavirus May Attack Testicular Tissue & Leave Men Infertile After Infection