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In times of coronavirus, smokers are more at risk than non-smokers.
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Pulmonologist Michael Barczok (65) comes to this knowledge and says: «It has never been as important as now to quit smoking!»
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imago images / CHROMORANGE
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In the current situation, smokers are at double risk: on the one hand, due to restricted lung function.
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imago images / PhotoAlto
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Secondly, because smokers would touch their faces much more often.
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pixabay
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Therefore, you should think carefully about the next grip on the cigarette.
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A last cigarette? Quitting smoking is difficult for many. But now would be the ideal time for it. Because the German pulmonologist Michael Barczok (65) warns “Focus Online”: Smokers are now more at risk than usual.
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“It has never been as important as now to quit smoking,” Barczok told the portal. There are several reasons why they are more at risk in the current situation, the doctor said.
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Lung cleanses itself – smoking stops the process for eight hours
Smoking prevents the lungs from cleaning themselves. “Our lungs have their own garbage disposal,” explains Barczok. It transports unwanted intruders from bottom to top using a type of conveyor belt.
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But cigarettes damage this conveyor belt and paralyze it for up to eight hours. The result: our lungs are no longer cleaned. “This is very dangerous,” the pulmonologist says. Then the viruses can spread faster in the lungs and the risk of pneumonia increases.
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Smoking weakens the immune system against viruses
In addition, smoking would significantly worsen our body’s defense system. The lung expert said: “There are over 1,500 chemicals, poisons and so on in the smoke.”
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The immune cells are thereby weakened in their function in the body. As a result, unlike a healthy non-smoker, the smoker does not have the same potential to defend against the virus.
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Smokers face each other more often than non-smokers
Barczo believes that smoking also poses a greater risk of infection than non-smokers. He says: “As a smoker, I hold something in my hand and use two fingers to bring it to my mouth.”
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In the current situation, smokers are therefore at double risk: due to a restricted lung function and because they smoke in the face more often. Therefore, you should think carefully about the next grip on the cigarette. (sib)
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