Warning issued specifically to vapers as new Covid strains 'Stratus' and 'Nimbus' surge in UK

Health experts have suggested people who vape could be particularly vulnerable to the current strains of Covid-19 doing the rounds this winter.

The pandemic may be long over, but coronavirus never went away and instead remains one of the many common viruses which are currently doing the rounds in society.

As we approach the colder months, which is when respiratory illnesses tend to surge through the population, the UK Health Security Agency (UKSHA) has identified variants Stratus and Nimbus as the most common strains of the Covid in the UK.

Common symptoms reported with both the Stratus and Nimbus variants include:

• Hoarse voice
• 'Razor blade' sore throat
• 'GI symptoms' such as include nausea, vomiting, bloating and acid reflux

This is, of course, alongside the telltale signs of Covid such as a fever, fatigue, cough and breathlessness. However, the current variants may pose a specific threat to anyone whose fond of puffing on an electronic cigarette.

Covid-19 is still doing the rounds (Getty Stock Images)

Now you may be wondering how your favourite flavour of fruity vape could exacerbate Covid symptoms, with Dublin City University's Assistant Professor at the School of Biotechnology Keith Rochfort revealing it's all to do with minimising the damage caused to the lining of the lungs.

"Vaping can add another layer of strain, and growing evidence shows that this extra pressure can damage the surface that makes every breath possible," he wrote in The Conversation.

Rochfort went on to explain how the smoke created by vaping carries ingredients such as 'propylene glycol, flavouring chemicals [and] nicotine (in most products)'as well as 'trace metals from the device itself'.

"When this cocktail reaches the lungs it doesn't stay on the surface," he added. "It seeps deeper, irritating the endothelium – the thin layer of cells lining the blood vessels that mesh with the air sacs."

However vapers have warned they may be especially vulnerable to its effects (Getty Stock Images)

Noting that both coronavirus and vaping 'drive inflammation' in the body, Rochfort went on to explain that the additional stress placed on the lungs can 'hinder' recovery.

"Vaping can also hinder recovery after a bout of Covid. Healing the fragile exchange surface requires every bit of support the lungs can get. Vaping adds extra stress to tissues the virus has already damaged, even if the vaper feels no immediate symptoms," he continued.

The result can be prolonged breathlessness, persistent fatigue and a slower return to pre-illness activity levels."

"Vaping already puts significant stress on the lungs," Marc Effron at Legacy Healing Centre added to The Mirror.

"But when you add a respiratory virus like Covid, particularly with these new strains that seem to linger longer in the airways, it becomes a dangerous mix.

"Your lungs are trying to fight off inflammation and repair tissue damage, while vaping keeps adding new irritation and chemicals into the equation."

Vaping can increase how long you feel unwell for (Getty Stock Images)

What is the current government guidance regarding Covid-19?

Unlike the guidelines from years passed, you are no longer required to stay at home if you test positive for coronavirus, however the government does advise that you stay at home where possible.

This includes staying at home or avoiding contact with people for five days, if possible, for adults and three days for children. It is also advised to avoid any contact with people who are unwell or immunocompromised.