Smokers Urged To Quit In Case They Get The Coronavirus

Smokers are being urged to kick the habit for the next few months because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Though there isn't enough evidence to support the theory that smokers are more likely to get Covid-19, health experts say smokers will experience far greater symptoms if they do wind up infected with the virus, compared to non-smokers.

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According to the ABC, people who smoke get more colds, have higher rates of being infected with the flu (and their symptoms are more severe) and are at a higher risk of risk of bacterial pneumonia.

As a result, people who light up, even if it's just a couple, are being asked to avoid ciggies.

Head of respiratory medicine at Sydney's Concord Hospital, Matthew Peters has told the national broadcaster: "Smoking is bad for your lungs and this is a particularly good time to not be a smoker and not have that damage going on.

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"You can't suddenly not be diabetic. You can't suddenly get rid of all the damage from past smoking. But you can get rid of the harms from current smoking.

"The benefits [of quitting] may well occur at the very time the health system is struggling to look after people with severe disease."

Smokers have a thicker mucus that lines the walls of the lungs, which can be prone to infection.

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Research from China indicates the morality rate for people with underlying health conditions was astronomically higher than their healthy counterparts; and it is well documented that smoking can increase your risk of developing a health condition.

A report from the World Health Organisation said: "This may have implications for smokers, given that smoking is considered to be a risk factor for any lower respiratory tract infection [10] and the virus that causes COVID-19 primarily affects the respiratory system, often causing mild to severe respiratory damage."

Australian authorities reckon the coronavirus pandemic will be prevalent for the next six months. It takes a few months for the lungs to heal and repair after you stop smoking.

So, if you've been wanting a reason to give up the smokes, this could be your moment.

Topics: News, Interesting, Coronavirus

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Trending Journalist at LADbible. His first job was as a newsreader and journalist at the award winning Sydney radio station, Macquarie Radio. He was solely responsible for the content broadcast on multiple stations across Australia when the MH17, Germanwings and AirAsia disasters unfolded. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign.

@stewartperrie