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Bill Klaproth: St. Joseph's Health presents another edition of its podcast, St. Joseph's Health MedCast. COVID-19 can cause serious respiratory problems for those affected by it. Those symptoms can be further complicated in people who have compromised respiratory systems such as those who smoke or vape. So, let's learn more with Dr. Beth Gero, program specialist, CNY regional center for tobacco health systems at St. Joseph's Health. Dr. Gero, thank you so much for your time. So, what should we know about Coronavirus and smoking and or vaping? 

Dr. Beth Gero: First of all, Bill, it's important to know that everyone is at risk of contracting COVID-19. I think that's kind of important to put that in perspective, because today there is still no direct evidence. However, a person that is smoking or vaping is more likely to get COVID-19 due to the fact the illness is especially dangerous for people with underlying conditions, as I'm sure you've heard such as heart disease, lung disease or diabetes are like the top three. And we keep hearing about this in the news. these people are at a much higher risk for developing more serious complications from the COVID-19 individuals. Therefore, this suggests that a smoker. Would be at a risk from the complications. one of the things that make you understand why, they would be at a risk when you talk about the complications from smoking and vaping, when you think about it, people are often touching their mouse with their fingers while smoking or vaping.

This is a known risk factor for getting COVID-19. That's why, you know, today we're taking all the precautions with washing our hands, constantly making sure that we're doing that. smoking makes the person more susceptible to the virus because it destroys some of the lungs, natural defenses.

And vaping the actually do the very same thing. I'm going to explain it just a little further and I won't go into too deep of detail, but e-cigarettes or vaping as such have been found they actually destroyed the Sealy and the lungs. And all of the Celia is it's the tiny little hair like structures. I want to think of them as like a brush, all the viruses and debris.

They get trapped in our lungs, the cilia sweeps it out of the airways. However, when we smoke or vape, we kill that failure immediately. They are the only body's main defense mechanism against infection. So, when they're damaged, they're less able to prevent the virus from settling into the lungs, which could make the tobacco user more susceptible to COVID-19.

So, what I want to say is that right now, you know, we're still researching it. We're still looking at it. but people should do whatever they can to quit during this pandemic. As we know that smoking or vaping does affect health in many ways. So, there's no better time to quit right now. 

Host: So, we hear about underlying conditions with COVID-19 people who smoke or use e-cigarettes are putting themselves more at risk than for COVID-19. Is that correct? 

Dr. Beth Gero: Yes, that is correct with the way they've already put their lungs at risk and it's not just their lungs, you know, their heart. there are many conditions that a person gets from smoking or vaping or all tobacco use because there's two there's snooze. there's a lot of other tobacco also like the hookah, you know, that does affect all of our health. So, smokers and vapors are at a higher risk for severe COVID-19 infections. So, smoking really affects the COVID-19 outcomes overall. As we all know, COVID-19 is an infectious disease that primarily Bill attacks the lungs there for smoking and vaping and peers, lung function, making it harder for the body to fight off the chronic viruses and other respiratory diseases. When the lungs have been exposed to tobacco, whether you're smoking or vaping. We are setting ourselves up for infection, such as the flu that affect the airways. They can get much sicker than a nonsmoker because of the damage that the lungs have already had happened to them. And to think about it this way, you know, when we damage our lungs, Bill, we're not able to provide enough oxygen or to use auction the way our lung should therefore setting us up for COVID-19. When you think about this smokers and vapers, get conditions such as pneumonia, you hear of like, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or chronic bronchitis every year are smokers and vapers are getting these diseases. So, these are also setting them up for higher risk, coming down with COVID-19. I've also heard in the news. You know, there are other symptoms of COVID-19 where you will hear that people are on ventilators and at their organs are shutting down. Well, when less oxygen from your lung, it gets into the bloodstream and Oregon's, this actually leads to organ damage, even death. So, there is such a similarity between the damage that we do from just smoking and vaping that affects us even without COVID-19. So now that we know our body's damaged and then with this deadly virus, it's much easier for it to attack our body because the lungs are damaged. 

Host: So, we know people that smoke are at higher risk. What about second hand smoke? Can second hand smoke, spread the Corona virus to others? 

Dr. Beth Gero: That's a really good question. And I'm going to say as an expert in the field. Yes. Early studies with this Corona virus, have found that the particles and secondhand smoke in the aerosols from vaping actually can stay longer linger in a smoker's home. These particles with the virus can linger in on dust, on services that we touch. Now, let's think about this for a moment. So, when people are smoking or vaping, they are also exhaling the particulates from the deep, within their lungs, into the environment around them. So, let's say they are vapers or smokers and maybe other people aren't within the household. They're all being exposed to whatever is being exhaled into the environment. And as we all know, secondhand smoke harms the lungs weakens our longer and it leads to more severe symptoms of COVID-19. A second hand smoke will impair our immune function info, young children and adult non-smokers, which increases their vulnerability to this infection. Not to mention Bill, long-term secondhand smoke exposure can damage the lungs. And make people more susceptible to the coronavirus complications. And I think this was really a good question and thanks for asking it, because right now, the way we are all, you know, in quarantine, we've been in our home so long and with a lot of vapers and smokers, and with the stress, I'm sure people are really, you know, using at this time.

Host: So, for someone who smokes or vapes, how can they lower their coronavirus risk? 

Dr. Beth Gero: Okay, Bill, demanding answers going to be simple. However, the task for the user is difficult. Tobacco users just need to quit smoking and vaping, especially at this time during a pandemic with COVID-19, because active smokers and active vapors at a higher risk of health problems, which could lead to COVID-19 experts are not sure whether former smokers or vapers.

Are more likely to get COVID-19 than those who have never smoked. This is being looked at however, a former smoker or vapor probably will have a lower risk of complications from COVID-19 and current users, because we know our lungs will heal really quickly once a person quit smoking or vaping Bill, because many people report less coughing and shortness of breath improves within a few weeks or even months.

So, my answer is yes to that question is it's very important to cut the risk of catching COVID-19 by quitting. Always follow the safety steps recommended by public health. You know, stay away from others who have been exposed, wash your hands, you know, try not to touch your nose, your mouth, your eyes and if you are able to get help in quitting smoking and vaping, it is the very best thing you can do.

Host: Even though this is a stressful time. It seems like now would be a good time to quit considering how smoking and or vaping puts you in a higher risk category for COVID-19.

Dr. Beth Gero: No matter when it's a great time to quit. But however COVID-19 is smoking or vaping. It's kind of like a deadly combination now. you know, we know compared to non-smokers smokers with COVID-19 are twice as likely to be admitted to the intensive care units, which we're seeing meeting mechanical ventilation or die, you know? Lungs work better when you stop smoking.

You know, vaping compromises are long function during a time when we need our lungs to be Bill at their very, very tiptop shape, the healthiest. And we know vaping is associated with an implementer process in the lining of the lungs, the very place that COVID-19 causes the most serious damage. So there has never been a better time to protect.

You know, our lung health right now, there are large and immediate benefits of quitting smoking. No matter when it's done. perhaps, you know, maybe these benefits supply actually more now than ever. You know, I do a lot of tobacco cessation counseling and right now we're doing a lot, you know, on the telephone of course, however, what we're seeing is people really want to quit right now.

However, as you stated, they're very stressed. You know, it's, they're at home, they are working from home and it, you know, before they were in offices where smoking wasn't allowed or vaping, wasn't, it's made things, you know,  probably a little more difficult where they really want to quit, but they're set up now in a situation where they're a home and it's easier to continue to smoke, but it, their potential for getting COVID-19 is increasing. And they might not have the motivation because they are at home. However, for people such as myself whose working at cessation. It's a teachable moment for us, you know, we need to let them know. No, there has never been a better time than now in quitting. And, you know, by reaching out to our smokers or vapers about quitting in this time.

They might be inspired to try, you know, if we can reach them and maybe this podcast will reach them, you know? it's important to note, like I said, that for some users, and that includes, you know, vaping, smoking chewing. Trying to quit during this time, you know, it might make it harder to, to be successful and people who don't want to quit, we don't need to, you know, put a stigma on them either.

We So if someone is struggling to quit smoking or vaping and they just need help to quit, are there some resources available? And if so, what are they. 

Oh, absolutely. We have a very, a wonderful resource in New York state called the New York state smokers quit line.

you can actually reach them by dialing one eight, six, six, and Y quits, or you can actually do their online, which is New York smoke-free dot com. Both of them will have offer free resources. They offer free nicotine replacement therapy, which is the patch, the gum. two people that are qualified for it and they will send you all sorts of great information.

They will give you lists of resources that are available in New York state that are offering cessation services all over the New York state region. They're basically the same, but like I said, one is a phone number and the other one is the online service. 

Host: Yeah. Those are great resources.

And if you're trying to quit and you need a little extra help, please, we encourage you to use those great resources. Dr. Gero, thank you so much for your time. This has really been informative. That's Dr. Beth Gero. And for more information, once again called the New York state smokers quit line at one eight six N Y quits or +1 866-697-8487.

Or visit N Y smoke-free.com. And if you found this podcast helpful, please share it on your social channels and check out the entire podcast library for topics of interest to you. This is St. Joseph's Health MedCast from St. Joseph's health. I'm Bill Klaproth thanks for listening.