Experts believe Smoking affects immunity, increases COVID-19 risk

Consumption of Tobacco has long been associated with numerous diseases such as lung disease, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Now there are growing concerns about smoking impacting immunity during COVID-19 pandemic.

According to experts, smoking impairs lung function, thereby reducing immunity and making it harder for the body to fight off various diseases including coronavirus. Even World Health Organization (WHO) in its recent study has stated that smokers face a 40-50 per cent higher risk of developing severe disease and death from coronavirus. On World No Tobacco Day, health experts are urging smokers to nip that bud and call it quits.

What Diseases can impact smokers

• COVID-19
• Brain stroke
• Heat disease
• Asthma
• Lung cancer
• Respiratory diseases
• Diabetes
• Impacting lung function
• Cardiovascular Disease
• Consuming Tobacco or smoking can also indirectly cause TB. As per experts, smokers are 3 times more likely to have TB.

The pandemic is encouraging many people to call it quits. There also many campaigns being run that to encourage people to quit this habit. One of the campaigns that WHO is supporting this year is "When You Quit". This campaign has been developed in multiple Indian languages and to be aired across 15 states covering 169 districts with a high burden of tobacco use through various radio channels, social media and OTT platforms.