Experts Call Vulnerable Smokers Infected with Covid-19, How Can? All pages

KOMPAS.com – Experts warn, smoke can increase the risk of being infected with Covid-19 and can be fatal.

This was conveyed by a cardiologist, dr Vito Anggarino Damay in an Online Dialogue for Government Spokesperson and Ambassador for Adaptation of New Habits by the National Committee for Handling Covid-19 and National Economic Recovery (KPCPEN), Monday (9/11/2020).

Vito said, people who still smoke and lack physical activity, should change their lifestyle to be healthier.

How is smoking related to Covid-19 infection?

Also read: Experts Reveal 7 Typical Symptoms of Mild to Moderate Covid-19

It has been stated by experts and proven by various scientific studies that a smoking lifestyle can increase the risk of transmitting Covid-19 and other non-communicable diseases.

This is because people have to remove masks when smoking.

Even when taking cigarettes and putting them on their lips, smokers generally never wash their hands.

The reason is, it is not certain that the smoker’s hand is clean from germs or the SARS-CoV-2 virus which is said to be able to survive on various types of surface objects ranging from hours to days, when he accidentally or accidentally touches the surfaces of these objects. .

As a result, the lips or mouth, which is one of the media for transmission of the virus, also have the potential to become the main entry point for Covid-19 without being noticed.

In addition, in general, the smoking habit is also carried out in a gathering or with friends, and this tends to be done at close range, under a minimum safe distance of 1 meter.

Also read: 3 Ways to Prevent Non-Communicable Diseases that Trigger the Death of Covid-19 Patients

More than that, said Vito, as it is known that Covid-19 is a disease that attacks the lungs, while smoking is an action that damages lung function and lowers immunity.

When smokers are infected with Covid-19, it will be more difficult for the smoker’s immunity to fight the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Current evidence shows that smokers have a higher mortality and severity rate than Covid-19 patients who are nonsmokers.

“The most sorry for passive smokers, because they are not cigarette connoisseurs, but are indirectly affected by the smoke they inhale,” explained Vito.

Even though the most severe condition is the smoker itself, because in the smoke there are inflammatory cells that cause our body’s defense capacity to decrease.

“So, when infected with viruses and other diseases, they are more easily attacked,” he said.

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