Smoking makes you more vulnerable to Covid19?

Yes.There are two aspects to this. One, smokers and other tobacco users are at greater risk of contracting Covid19.

Why? Smokers and other tobacco users bring their hands to their mouths frequently, increasing their chances of contracting the infection. Sharing of hookah/sheesha or water pipes is equally dangerous. Chewing tobacco, which produces saliva and increases the urge to spit, can also lead to an environment that aids the spread of Coronavirus.

Two, smoking can also give you severe symptoms.

Here’s how.

Smoking damages your lungs and can affect other organs of your body. This exposes smokers to a greater risk of getting severe Covid19 symptoms. As you may be aware Covid19 primarily attacks the respiratory system and lungs. A lung already compromised by smoking, therefore, has little chance of surviving a covid19 onslaught. The chances of severe disease symptoms and death are higher for tobacco users including e-cigarettes.

So will quitting help? Yes, the benefits of quitting are almost instantaneous with improved heart rate and pulse and less carbon monoxide in the blood. Within 2-12 weeks of quitting, circulation improves and lung function increases. After 1-9 months, coughing and shortness of breath decrease.

Can I get help to quit?

Yes, you can talk to Florence right away on the WHO website.   

Florence is WHO's first virtual health worker, designed to help the world's 1.3 billion tobacco users quit. She uses artificial intelligence to dispel myths around COVID-19 and smoking and helps people develop a personalized plan to quit tobacco. 

Users can rely on Florence as a trusted source of information to achieve their quit goals. She can also help recommend tobacco users to further national toll-free quit lines or apps that can help you with your quit journey. You can interact with her via video or text. 

There are other resources on the WHO website as well, that can assist you in quitting.

Country level support is available at the primary healthcare system in the form of brief counseling.  Some countries have toll-free national quit-lines while others offer mCessation support to help quit tobacco.

Quitting saves lives. Quit today!