Relationship between COVID-19 and Smoking

Abstract

The novel coronavirus has disrupted the normal life of each individual with masks becoming an integral part of life. Mostly every person is well informed about the precautions that need to be taken for the containment of the virus such as regular hand washing, wearing of masks in outdoors, social distancing, etc. Yet there has been little reference to the deleterious habit of smoking that can weigh heavily on one's health. This article aims to look into the connection and intricacies of smoking that may directly or indirectly affect the severity of the symptoms of COVID-19. Smoking is already a known etiologic factor for many cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), coronary artery disease, carcinoma of the lungs, etc. While COVID-19 is a virus that causes respiratory distress in severe cases, not much is known or emphasized in the medical field of its possible relationship with smoking. Our information is limited to whether the presence of smoking history in infected patients worsens the condition or there is no relationship between smoking and COVID-19. Moreover, with the introduction of lockdown as a measure to contain the virus, it substantially increases the incidence of anxiety, depression and other mental health diseases which can contribute tremendously to the relapses of smoking or convert a non-smoker to a smoker. Hence, it is imperative to look into the possible relationship of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Corona Virus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and smoking.