Can cigarette smoke spread COVID-19?

COVID-19 infections are on the rise, the world’s health networks have reported that in the last 24 hours there were almost 3.4 million cases in a context that the omicron variant has become the dominant one.

The authorities seek to slow this trend with preventive measures to avoid exposure to the virus and a situation that still does not have a clear answer is whether cigarette smoke can spread the coronavirus.

The World Health Organization (WHO) published a report explaining that tobacco smokers are more vulnerable to contracting COVID-19 because the act of smoking involves the contact of fingers – and possibly contaminated cigarettes – with the lips, which increases the possibility of transmission of viruses from hand to mouth.

In addition, it points out that smokers are more likely to suffer more severe symptoms and even death if they contract COVID-19, because smoking affects lung function and coronavirus is an infectious disease that primarily attacks the lungs.

“Tobacco use is also an important risk factor for non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, some respiratory diseases and diabetes, and people with these diseases are at increased risk of developing severe symptoms in the event of infection. be affected by COVID-19″, details the WHO.

Does cigarette smoke spread COVID-19?

Although the information is still limited, several experts explain how cigarette smoke can be a transmitter of the coronavirus for people who are not necessarily smoking.

“There are no studies that show that cigarette smoke itself can cause the transmission of the virus, but what is a fact is that the person is blowing and if the aroma of smoke reached me, it is also reaching me theoretically. the particles that person is putting out. Therefore, if those particles that he blew along with the cigarette smoke are infected with covid, it is possible that if I felt the aroma, the virus also entered ”, Doctor Raúl Sansores, a specialist in Pulmonology, explained to Animal Politico.

Dr. Elmer Huerta in his Sanmente program agrees with his colleague and points out that smoking promotes the spread of COVID-19, but not necessarily because of the smoke.

“The person’s breath with viruses and aerosols are mixed with the smoke and you could become infected by passing next to a smoker”, said the doctor, according to América TV.

• If you smoke, use e-cigarettes, or use smokeless tobacco, now is a good time to completely quit smoking.
• Don’t share devices like water pipes and e-cigarettes.
• Spread the word about the risks of smoking, using e-cigarettes, and using smokeless tobacco.
• Protect others from the harm of secondhand smoke.
• Learn the importance of hand washing, physical distancing, and not sharing smoking products or e-cigarettes.

RECOMMENDED VIDEO