Kolkata, 23rd July 2020; COVID-19 is a disease that preys on lungs which means, the respiratory track gets more affected. Since the respiratory tracks of the smokers are already compromised the infection of COVID-19 gets more fatal. World Health Organization(WHO) has listed Smoking Tobacco as one of the major risking factors for COVID-19.
Smokers have relatively higher number of ACE2 (Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2) that provokes the inflammation and also more secretory cells permitting the infection.
ACE2, attached to the outer surface of cells in lungs, arteries, heart, kidney and intestines, also serves as the entry point for corona virus, including SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19).
Smoking is additionally a key reason for co-morbidities in a person like cardiac disorder, diabetes, hypertension, chronic respiratory disorder and cancer. It’s been noticed that mortality rates of Covid-19 are higher among patients with co-morbidities which are directly associated with smoking. So it’s all the more important to quit smoking during these times of health crisis, stated Dr Dewan.
According to WHO, tobacco kills quite 8 million people every year. over 7 million of these deaths are the results of direct tobacco use while around 1.2 million are the results of non-smokers being exposed to second-hand smoke. Over 80% of the world’s 1.3 billion tobacco users board low- and middle-income countries.
Dr Ravindra Nallagonda, senior consultant in pulmonology and critical care medicine of Aster Prime Hospital stated that Smoking negatively impacts respiratory organ health, inhibits body`s responsiveness to infections, and suppresses immunity. Sound medicine proved that smoking will increase the chance of infectious agent respiratory organ and throat infections. Light-emitting diode researchers to posit that smokers square measure at multiplied Covid-19 risk. Smoking is related to multiplied risk of nearly each alternative metastasis infectious diseases.
According to a study produced in The New England Journal of medication in February, against non-smokers, smokers measure two times additional seemingly to be admitted to medical aid Intensive care unit needed mechanical ventilation or die.