As COVID-19 continues to ravage the world, many people who smoke are facing a dilemma of whether or not to quit smoking to improve their chances of combatting the virus. Below are some frequently asked questions regarding smoking and COVID-19.
- Will smoking increase the risk of getting COVID-19?
At the moment, there is still not enough information to definitively prove the smoking will increase the likelihood of contracting COVID-19. But it has long been established the smoking damages the lungs and COVID-19 symptoms include mild to severe issues with breathing. What this means is that if you become infected with COVID-19 while still continuing to smoke, it is likely that you will experience worse symptoms than someone who does not smoke and contracts the virus. You are also more likely to end up in the ICU and needing to be hooked to a ventilator to help you breathe.
- How can quitting smoking help with COVID-19 symptoms?
The benefits of quitting smoking are numerous. Twenty minutes after you quit smoking your blood pressure and heart rate will begin to return to normal. The cilia in your respiratory tract will start to move properly once more helping to remove debris and microorganisms from your lungs. All these have massive impacts on improving COVID-19 symptoms.
- Is it safer to use e-cigarettes than smoke actual cigarettes if I get COVID-19 and don’t want to make symptoms worse?
The best and safest thing to do would be to quit smoking entirely, not only to avoid making COVID-19 symptoms worse but for your overall health. The chemicals that are present in both cigarettes and electronic cigarettes such as vape pens or Juul damages the microscopic air in our respiratory system that helps make breathing easier. Called cilia, when these tiny hairs are damaged, the body has trouble moving mucus and dirt away from your lungs and respiratory tract. This puts you at a greater risk for infection. The same way that a spy wireless camera device protects your home, quitting smoking helps protect your lungs against infection.
- Will occasional smoking make COVID-19 symptoms worse?
Inhaling any amount of smoke is not good for the health of your lungs. Even smoking one cigarette a day will increase your risk of developing stroke and heart disease. Smoke damages your cilia and will make breathing more difficult. Not smoking every day is better than doing it daily but there is no such thing as smoking safely. Knowing when you’re going to contract COVID-19 is next to impossible. The best you can do is follow the recommended health guidelines set by health and medical authorities like the CDC.
- I have trouble quitting smoking despite cancer and COVID-19 diagnosis. What should I do?
Getting a cancer diagnosis is stressful enough, getting a COVID-19 diagnosis is only going to compound that stress. A lot of people turn to smoke to relieve stress but you can also use such stressor to motivate yourself and focus on turning your life around and making better health decisions. Such changes are not easy and they will take time and quitting smoking is the first step towards a healthier life. Asking for help and turning to support systems during these difficult times is going to help immensely.
AUTHOR BIO:
Lily Brooks is an avid blogger and frequent traveler who writes about home improvement, travel, and the latest trends in emerging technologies. She is currently working with EyeSpySupply, which offers a wide range of surveillance equipment, including spy wireless camera, nanny cams, gps tracker, voice-activated audio recorders, and more.
