Smoking Increases the Risk of Being Infected with Covid-19, Expert Explains

JAKARTA, iNews.id – Smoke has been linked to many health problems, including those of the respiratory system. One of them is infection Covid-19, a contagious disease caused by a new virus, SARS-Cov-2.

According to several studies that have been conducted, smokers have the potential to be infected with Covid-19 two to three times higher than nonsmokers. This is due to the number of ACE 2 receptors or SARS-Cov-2 seats in the respiratory tract of smokers more than non-smokers.

This was explained by the General Chair of the Indonesian Lung Doctors Association (PDPI), Dr. Agus Dwi Susanto, SpP (K), FAPSR, FISR. He said cigarette smoke produced by smokers can reduce immunity, especially in the respiratory tract immunity.

“The ingredients in cigarette smoke have been proven to interfere with the migration process of various immune cells when fighting infection. That has been researched in several previous journals,” said Dr. Agus Dwi Susanto, as quoted from the BNPB press release, Friday (14 / 8/2020).

As a result, he continued, when a smoker is infected, there will be a wider and more severe condition, including if infected with Covid-19. In addition, smoking can also increase the potential for more comorbids so that the potential for contracting or being infected with Covid-19 is greater.

“These comorbid diseases are more common in smokers. As a result, of course, when a smoker has comorbids, it ultimately raises the risk of contracting Covid-19. So there is an indirect impact from smoking, comorbid and then Covid-19, “he said.

The next cause that causes smokers to more easily contract Covid-19 is the habit of smokers in holding cigarettes repeatedly. According to him, this habit causes the transmission of the virus into the body to increase due to inhalation from the hands to the respiratory tract.

“According to the literature, the risk of Covid-19 occurring in smokers is quite high. So if the smoker gets Covid-19 and dies, that’s around 25 percent. Meanwhile, the general mortality in the world is about five percent or times the world’s mortality. So, smokers are indeed high in increasing the risk of contracting Covid-19, “he said.

Editor : Tuty Ocktaviany