The World Health Organization has issued a warning to smokers about the added risk of exposure to COVID-19.
The WHO posted to Facebook this week that smokers are one and half times more likely to be affected severely by COVID-19.
That does not come as a surprise to Dr. Leslie Phillips, a professor with Memorial University’s School of Pharmacy.
She specializes in smoking cessation and says the risk of severe illness faced by smokers, and the added risk of spreading the illness has long been suspected.
Dr. Phillips says there is the hand-to-mouth action that comes with smoking or vaping which increases the risk of spreading the virus, in addition to the damage smoking and vaping causes to the lungs, which are vulnerable to the virus.
Here is a good reason for saying no tobacco 🚭:Smokers are 1.5 times more likely to get severe COVID-19.It's time to quit 🚬 to stay healthy and beat NCDs!
Posted by World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday, May 10, 2021
