Do you have a friend or loved one who smokes tobacco or marijuana or who vapes? Because COVID-19 attacks the lungs, those who smoke or vape may be especially vulnerable to the complications of COVID-19.
People suffering from serious illness and death from COVID-19 seem to be older and have underlying health issues like diabetes, cancer, and respiratory conditions. Thus, those who have compromised lung function or lung disease related to smoking like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) could be at increased risk for serious complications of COVID-19.
So, what advice should you offer to someone who smokes or vapes or who is exposed to secondhand smoke?
- Stop smoking
- Stop vaping
- Avoid exposure to secondhand smoke
Among the many reasons to stop smoking or vaping, increased risk for serious complications of COVID-19 could be the push that someone needs to quit. Here is a quote from a 20-year-old vaper who has done just that: “I heard you get a lot sicker if you do vape and get coronavirus, so it kind of (pushed me) to quit”.