Chennai: The lungs of people who smoke may contain more of the receptors that the new coronavirus uses to invade cells; people who are affected by the virus and also smoke are more vulnerable to severe illness, says Dr V. Sreenivasan, consultant pulmonologist, Gleneagles Global Health City, Chennai.
Chronic smoking causes cancer in the lungs as well as chronic obstructive lung diseases. Carbon monoxide released during smoking deprives the heart of a part of oxygen and asphyxiates it causing cardiovascular incidents, he says.
‘Tobacco smoke causes spasms in arteries, clots in the brain, and disorders of heart rhythm, mentioned Dr Sreenivasan. Nicotine is very addictive and linked to health hazards particularly in children, pregnant women, and adolescents. About 30 per cent of the world’s population has access to appropriate tobacco cessation services. Chances of quitting tobacco can be doubled with the right support.
According to WHO, ‘M POWER’ i.e. Monitor, Protect, Offer, Water, Enforce strategy is implemented for smoking cessation,’ he adds.