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

[NailsNeedDoing]

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?

Actually maybe our lungs are so lined with tar the virus can't get through to attack them

To borrow that excellent phrase from Airplane, "Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit smoking"

@leasedaudi3

Maybe the tar / hot nicotine burns the covid germs?

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

Maybe they should install smoke machines on public transport?

Forced uptake of vaping for the over fifties?

Candy cigarettes for the under twelves?

I have said it before, I don't understand why the gov is not making a stronger case for your OWN HEALTH! Why aren't they rolling out Vit D to everyone, suggesting lots of exercise and fresh air rather than just once a day, getting people to give up smoking, lose weight, eat healthily?

I think it's so they can just blame us. WE are spreading Covid, we are the problem. Rather than encourage us to take responsibility for our own health; Rather than invest in the NHS to be suitable for use

My NDN has told me that he is 'vulnerable' due to being overweight and a smoker. Both of which he could do something about - but it's easier to just clap for the NHS, rather than try not to use the hospitals to put you right again.

It's not a Health service, it's a Sickness service. How about trying to live longer by taking responsibility for your own health?

Incidentally, the smoke/nicotine aapparently has a shielding effect on the smoker, probably becasue the virus (like the rest of us) doesn't want to get to close to your mouth/nose. But once it's in you (and it will, by any other means), you will be much worse off than a healthy non-smoking person.

Maybe that is it Sparklfairy, covid can't get into our lungs.

@ptumbi
It sounds like you need a smoke and a sitdown!

Wasn't there also some talk about trialling nicotine patches to see if they also offered protection?

Anyway, FWIW I believe the report said that smokers were less likely to get Covid, but that if they do their outcomes are worse - so the anti-smoker brigade can heave a sigh of relief after all

Never mind the smoking watch the alcohol intake I have seen several reports how alcohol reduces the immune system and is to be avoided around the vaccination time

@ptumbi

I have said it before, I don't understand why the gov is not making a stronger case for your OWN HEALTH! Why aren't they rolling out Vit D to everyone, suggesting lots of exercise and fresh air rather than just once a day, getting people to give up smoking, lose weight, eat healthily?

I think it's so they can just blame us. WE are spreading Covid, we are the problem. Rather than encourage us to take responsibility for our own health; Rather than invest in the NHS to be suitable for use

My NDN has told me that he is 'vulnerable' due to being overweight and a smoker. Both of which he could do something about - but it's easier to just clap for the NHS, rather than try not to use the hospitals to put you right again.

It's not a Health service, it's a Sickness service. How about trying to live longer by taking responsibility for your own health?

Incidentally, the smoke/nicotine aapparently has a shielding effect on the smoker, probably becasue the virus (like the rest of us) doesn't want to get to close to your mouth/nose. But once it's in you (and it will, by any other means), you will be much worse off than a healthy non-smoking person.

Yes because grown adults need the government to tell them to look after their own health, because otherwise it would never occur to them to take that sort of responsibility 🙄🙄

In the distant past, before the health effects were known, doctors used to recommend smoking as a cure for 'nerves'. My grandma was advised to take up smoking to help her 'war nerves' during WWII.

@vodkaredbullgirl

Maybe that is it Sparklfairy, covid can't get into our lungs.

On the face of it, it sounds logical!

Whodathunkit. Forget Trump's idea of injecting yourself with bleach, all you have to do is line your lungs with a thick protective layer of tar

A french study last year showed that smokers are 80% less likely to catch the virus.

They're currently running the nicotine patch study which I think is set to run for 6 or 7 months

As much as I'm not a smoker, I'm a Londoner and I dread to think what sort of shit is in my lungs.

I dont necessarily have a problem with anti smoking vitriol, it makes sense and is understandable.

What I do take issue with is that amount of vitriol coming from a country of flabby borderline alcoholics 🤷‍♀️

Well I'm a smoker and a londoner, so god knows what my lungs are like. I am super active though and do a lot of exercise.

They're currently running the nicotine patch study which I think is set to run for 6 or 7 months

I also read that part of the reason for smokers' bad outcomes was that they suffer nicotine withdrawal if they are hospitalised. Nicotine patches to wear in hospital would seem like a good idea, especially as so many hospitals won't even let you smoke outside nowadays.

@ptumbi - there is plenty of govt advice about healthy eating, maintaining a healthy BMI, not smoking, exercise, alcohol limits!! Lots of people just choose to ignore it. At the end of the day a grown adult should not rely on the nanny state to keep them healthy.

[quote CrotchBurn]@Sethy38
Looking around at the local population... Does anyone in the UK really exercise?[/quote]
Where do you live?!

South east commuter town and I can’t recall last time I saw anyone seriously or even moderately overweight. Everyone I know either runs / cycles / weights etc. Yoga is very popular too.

Not sure if this has prompted the threads about smoking?

www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-9118789/Smoking-DOUBLES-risk-hospitalisation-Covid-19.html

Apologies for DM link, I was actually looking for the letter by David Hockney in defence of smoking when this came up.

I would wonder whether you'd be less inclined to pick up mild cases because smokers often cough anyway, so if they have a few extra coughs, then may well not think to get a test.
That would fit with the don't get it so often, but if they do, they get it badly comments.

@JanuaryBlus

If you smoke your hardly bothered about Covid. If you were you'd be trying to give up or already have.

Do you think the same about overweight people?

@ArabellaScott Grab me 20 silk cut while you're there will you. Let's burn the masks and light up :)

How much is a packet of 20 fags these days anyway? I've not touched them for about 8 years.

I get tested weekly for work (all negative). I was told that when we have to do the rapid covid test not to smoke. Apparently it can give a false positive, also not to drink pepsi.

If you smoke your hardly bothered about Covid

On the contrary. If I have to go into a shop for essentials I make a point of having a cigarette immediately before going in and as soon as I come out, to maximise the prophylactic effects of the nicotine.