Is it possible to smoke with coronavirus

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

Among the first recommendations of doctors at the risk of chronic diseases is the refusal of cigarettes. Is it possible to smoke with coronavirus and how can this affect the course of the disease?

Does smoking protect against coronavirus? Controversial research

Since the beginning of the global coronavirus epidemic, WHO has warned that smoking cigarettes increases the risk of contracting the coronavirus. First of all, we are talking about the fact that it increases the risk of transmitting viral particles from hand to face.

Accordingly, the WHO has even come up with numerous tips to use the pandemic period to quit smoking. It has also been shown that smoking increases the risk of lung disease and limits its ability. It increases the likelihood of heart disease, which in turn exposes you to the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus and the severe course of the COVID-19 disease.

Meanwhile, in April, the results of the study were published, which led to completely opposite conclusions. The analysis included 480 patients who were at the Salpetriere Hospital in Paris due to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus or were treated at home.

It turned out that smokers were a minority in both groups. Among hospitalized patients with an average age of about 65 years, 4% were regular smokers. Among the people who stayed at home during the treatment period, 5.3% admitted that they smoke.

Then neuroscientist Jean-Pierre Changer, who analyzed the results of the study, suggested that nicotine could block the entry of the virus into the cells of the body, thereby preventing its spread.

He also found that nicotine can reduce the overreaction of the body's immune system, which is seen in the most severe cases of COVID-19 infection. But the study has since been heavily criticized for its small research sample. Indeed, for such high-profile statements, it is not enough to conduct a study on several hundred people.

Coronavirus and cigarette smoking

COVID-19 damages both the lungs and the immune system, according to information released by the director of the intensive care unit at Zhongnan Hospital at Wuhan University. This is why healthy lungs give you a better chance of survival. In such patients, covid usually resolves in a mild form.

Coronavirus provokes increased lung fibrosis. It is very dangerous, for example for the elderly. They are more often diagnosed with fibrosis, but it can also occur in young people who inhale polluted air, smoke e-cigarettes or regular cigarettes.

The virus may remain asymptomatic up to a certain point. If someone has sick lungs, weakened by chronic diseases, asthma, the virus attacks the patient's tissues faster. In his case, the course of the disease will be much more complicated. It may also have a lower chance of survival.

Effects of e-cigarettes on health

Last year, doctors in Gross Pointe, Michigan even had to perform a lung transplant on a teenager who completely destroyed the tissues of this vital organ with e-cigarettes. Doctors in Michigan warned that frequent smoking can cause permanent damage to the lungs.

E-cigarettes have been criticized by doctors after a recent press conference by the mayor of New York, which discussed cases of hospitalization of young people for the coronavirus. In particular, the opinion was voiced that it was smoking that brought the situation with young patients to the point of needing urgent assistance.

It is important to understand that smoking always leads to multiple organ damage. Russian doctors are also talking about this. Smoking not only affects the upper and lower respiratory tract. Smoking causes atherosclerosis, arterial hypertension and symptoms of coronary heart disease. Smoking is never good. It cannot be argued that the intensity of the smoke will affect the rate at which the disease progresses.

The difference in the negative impact of hookah, cigarettes and aikos is also difficult to assess. All of the above is harmful to health. They all contain nicotine and other tobacco ingredients that are used in manufacturing.

The e-cigarette contains a large number of other synthetic components that are used to create aroma and taste, as well as a slight evaporation and volatile consistency.

Smoking increases the risk of hospitalization and dangerous complications with COVID-19

Research has shown quite clearly that smoking increases the likelihood that a patient with COVID-19 will be hospitalized and require ventilator support.

A team led by Professor D. Al-Thani analyzed the results of 8 studies, during which patients hospitalized with COVID-19 were studied. The group consisted of almost 1, 8 thousand people. The conclusions were unambiguous: if a smoker is already infected with the coronavirus, he is more likely to get sick in a more complex form than nonsmokers, and he will need breathing support.

Interesting! How does Covid-19 differ from viral and bacterial pneumonia?

Dr. K. Farsalinos, a Greek physician who analyzed over 30 studies in China, came to a similar conclusion. Based on the data at his disposal, he was unable to prove that active smokers are more likely to be hospitalized due to COVID-19. He also found that they have a complicated form of covid, they get sick longer and have more negative effects associated with COVID-19.

Outcomes

1. Despite the emergence of controversial claims regarding the benefits of smoking in coronavirus, there are many studies indicating the addition of complications in the case of such patients.
2. It has also been proven that e-cigarettes are capable of destroying the lungs just like regular cigarettes.
3. The World Health Organization has officially stated that smoking has no beneficial effect on people undergoing coronavirus treatment. Its representatives drew attention to the destructive effect of smoking not only on the lungs, but also on other organs, especially on the cardiovascular system. They advised using the pandemic period to quit smoking.