Jakarta, Beritasatu.com – Many studies or studies have been conducted by various groups to prove the correlation between smoking habits and the potential for contracting Covid-19. These studies show that the potential for smokers to contract Covid-19 can be two to three times higher than nonsmokers.
This is because the number of ACE 2 receptors or the seat of the SARS-Cov-2 virus that causes Covid-19 in the respiratory tract of smokers is more than non-smokers.
This was conveyed by the General Chair of the Indonesian Lung Doctors Association (PDPI) Agus Dwi Susanto, in the dialogue “Does Smoking Increase the Risk of Contracting Covid-19” Covid-19 Handling Task Force at Graha BNPB, Wednesday (12/8/2020).
According to Agus, the next cause is that cigarette smoke produced by smokers can reduce the body’s immunity, especially in the respiratory tract immunity. Even though it is known that the immune system is very important to play a role in preventing viral and bacterial infections.
This is because the ingredients in cigarette smoke have been shown to interfere with the migration process of various immune cells while fighting infection. There has been research in several previous journals.
“Whereas when a smoker then an infection occurs, the migration of the immunity cells will decrease and their function will also decrease. As a result, when infected there will be a wider range of conditions and tend to be heavier, including in Covid-19,” said Agus.
Other causes are associated with comorbidities. People who have comorbid diseases such as heart disease, hypertension and diabetes are known to have a greater potential to contract Covid-19. Smoking can increase the potential for more comorbids so that the potential for contracting or being infected with Covid-19 is greater.
“Almost comorbid diseases are more common in smokers, as a result of course, when a smoker has comorbidities, it ultimately creates a risk of contracting Covid-19. So there is an indirect impact from smoking, comorbid and then Covid-19 itself, “said Agus.
The next cause that causes smokers to more easily contract Covid-19 is the habit of smokers in holding cigarettes repeatedly. This habit causes the transmission of the virus into the body much more due to inhalation from the hands to the respiratory tract.
In terms of mortality or mortality rates, Agus said the potential possessed by a smoker occupies a fairly high percentage. The potential death rate from Covid-19 in smokers is around 25 percent. Meanwhile, the general mortality in the world is around 5 percent.
“So smokers are indeed high in increasing the risk of contracting severe Covid-19 to death,” said Agus.
The chairman of the Healthy Jogja Without Tobacco (JSTT) Forum, Yayi Suryo Prabandari, said that education in various media must be increased to create public awareness of the dangers of smoking amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The provision of education, information and communication in various media must be increased in order to spur public awareness of the impact of smoking and its dangerous causes in terms of the spread of Covid-19,” added Yayi.
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