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Original poster

To wonder why they haven’t said anything about smokers?

158 replies

NailsNeedDoing · 13/01/2021 11:19

It occurred to me, while I was having a cigarette, that I haven’t heard anything about how smokers are affected by covid, which seems a bit odd considering covid is a respiratory illness and we know how bad smoking is for lungs.

We’ve heard about all the other extra risk factors like obesity, age, ethnicity, living in an area of deprivation but unless I’ve missed it, I haven’t heard anything about smokers. Are they just not collecting that data or something?

OP posts:
GlobeUs · 13/01/2021 11:53

I also think that it is important to remember that many people who smoke don't have it on the records, and I doubt many people who catch covid will decide that their recovery period is a good time to admit to smoking because of the judgemental attitudes of many people.

leasedaudi3 · 13/01/2021 11:54

Maybe the tar / hot nicotine burns the covid germs?

Who knows.. I'm not gonna start smoking.

Tehmina23 · 13/01/2021 11:54

My friend who's a smoker has just had Covid & it went straight to her chest & she had to get antibiotics... luckily she's recovering now.

Sethy38 · 13/01/2021 11:55

I’ve not really considered smokers now I come to think of it.

I suspect because I subconsciously think that in terms of health - smokers are fu”king things up for themselves in so many ways that covid would be just be added to the long long list!

Popcornriver · 13/01/2021 11:58

Bluntness100

That's really interesting. I wonder how that works with vaping nicotine. The nicotine isn't the harmful part is it? Just what causes the addiction. I wonder how ecigarette users have got on with the virus.

Frollocks · 13/01/2021 11:59

Protective effects of smoking are thought to be down to nicotine www.cebm.net/covid-19/nicotine-replacement-therapy/ , ongoing trials in France using nicotine patches. Obviously tobacco control aren't thrilled about this so don't tend to talk about it much.

HisNibs · 13/01/2021 12:00

It'll be that intelligent covid that comes along, has a look and says "Hold up you lot, these lungs are fucked anyway. Let's go and find something fresher"

HisNibs · 13/01/2021 12:01

I suspect it's the nicotine really

WorraLiberty · 13/01/2021 12:02

@Popcornriver

Bluntness100

That's really interesting. I wonder how that works with vaping nicotine. The nicotine isn't the harmful part is it? Just what causes the addiction. I wonder how ecigarette users have got on with the virus.

Apparently it's the nicotine that blocks the receptors (according to the studies).

So I would imagine it would be the same for nicotine vapers.

AlternativePerspective · 13/01/2021 12:05

Surely anyone with half a brain would have worked out that smoking is already likely to make them ill.

As a smoker you’re likely to die of either heart disease or lung cancer anyway.

Ellieboolou33 · 13/01/2021 12:09

I'm a smoker, I'm also overweight, I have covid and it's been nothing but a mild cold for me.

Agree maybe it's due to my lungs being fucked anyway. My cousin who has never smoked also has covid and is suffering badly with breathlessness.

AcornAutumn · 13/01/2021 12:11

@CrotchBurn

A study showed that weirdly smokers seem less at risk of complications and they wondered if it was due to nicotine
Yes I think that got suppressed very fast and they are now careful not to say anything!
Sethy38 · 13/01/2021 12:13

* My cousin who has never smoked also has covid and is suffering badly with breathlessness.*

Breathlessness just a way of life for lots of smokers. So probably many just shrugging it off whereas non smoker have a higher expectation of quality of life!

Bloody hell it must be a shit being a smoker

LochJessMonster · 13/01/2021 12:13

@JanuaryBlus

If you smoke your hardly bothered about Covid. If you were you'd be trying to give up or already have.Hmm
Agree. They can hardly say they care about their health can they...
Furries · 13/01/2021 12:14

A couple of other posters have mentioned along these lines, but I’ve thought that it’s maybe in some way to do with the damage caused to the lungs means that the virus spikes aren’t able to attach as easily. Am no doctor, just guessing.

You’re right that smoking hasn’t been mentioned much. And I agree that it’s best not to highlight if it really is a proven trend, as smoking shouldn’t be perceived in any way as a good idea (and I’m a smoker).

SomewhatBored · 13/01/2021 12:16

Nicotine apparently makes it harder for the virus to take hold. But if it does take hold anyway, existing lung damage will make a serious illness more likely.

If you smoke, you are likely to have lung damage anyway which in the short term, stopping won't reverse. So, purely from the point of view of Covid, this is not the best time to quit - you are better off enjoying the preventative properties of the nicotine because if you quit, get the virus, your existing lung damage means you will suffer the same bad outcome as an active smoker.

It hasn't been mentioned much in the media because no one dares say anything about smoking that isn't 100% negative.

Ellieboolou33 · 13/01/2021 12:18

@Sethy38

* My cousin who has never smoked also has covid and is suffering badly with breathlessness.*

Breathlessness just a way of life for lots of smokers. So probably many just shrugging it off whereas non smoker have a higher expectation of quality of life!

Bloody hell it must be a shit being a smoker

Yeah addiction is shit, I'll agree with that, can't say I suffer from breathlessness though.
SparklyLeprechaun · 13/01/2021 12:19

This thread made me really want a cigarette now and I gave up about 12 years ago.

Sethy38 · 13/01/2021 12:19

* Yeah addiction is shit, I'll agree with that, can't say I suffer from breathlessness though.*

But do you ever exercise?

ArabellaScott · 13/01/2021 12:20

At last, a reason to take it up again!

Fucking brilliant! I'm right out to get some full fat Malboroughs. Thanks, OP. Grin

CrotchBurn · 13/01/2021 12:21

@Sethy38
Looking around at the local population... Does anyone in the UK really exercise?

Sparklfairy · 13/01/2021 12:21

@Flickoffboris

Anecdotally smoking is a protective factor, but no one is going to publicise that
This, plus the fact that smoking is a leading cause of a number of illness that then make you very vulnerable to covid.

And I say that while smoking a cigarette...

Pinkbubbles12 · 13/01/2021 12:22

I read at the start of the pandemic about smoking and being less likely to be ill.
Obviously i thought it was ridiculous.
Since this new variant many of my family have been covid positive and most smoke all ages. Strangely enough they all faired better than thoes who didn't, starnge and maybe a coincidence.

My auntie who is 78 with copd smokes lives with her granddaughter who smokes also both have been around many who tested positive (well Obviously unknown just before) and both never had it.

Ellieboolou33 · 13/01/2021 12:22

@Sethy38 daily, so I do get breathless then, apart from when I'm jogging or doing a workout I don't suffer from feeling breathless.

SchrodingersImmigrant · 13/01/2021 12:23

Funnily I became breathless, like properly breathless, AFTER I stopped smoking🤦 Was quite fine before.