|
|
|
|
British artist David Hockney has claimed that smoking could protect people from the coronavirus. The keen smoker, 82, suggested those who frequently light up may have “immunity” to the infection. In a letter published in the Daily Mail, Hockney wrote: “Could it not be that smokers have developed an immune system to this virus? [...] With all these figures coming out (in) research in China it’s beginning to look like that to me".
Deborah Arnott, Chief Executive of ASH, has rejected his comments: “David Hockney is a very heavy smoker and is always looking for reasons not to quit, but this is risky advice for others to take. Quitting smoking has immediate benefits. If you quit endothelial function in the linings of small arteries in the blood system improves rapidly. Endothelial dysfunction is a major mechanism driving severe complications of COVID. So if you get COVID being a smoker is likely to increase your risk of getting it badly.”
Hockney, who lives in Normandy, has said France is “a lot more smoker-friendly than England”.
Source: Yahoo News, 15 April 2020
|
|
Rapid guidelines just published by NICE, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, on the treatment of patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) "strongly encourage" patients to quit smoking.
Dr Sanjay Agrawal, Consultant in Respiratory and Intensive Care Medicine, and currently working on the frontline treating patients suffering from COVID-19, said: “The NICE guidelines are spot on, doctors should be strongly encouraging smokers with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to quit. In fact they should be encouraging all smokers to quit, as early evidence from China shows that smokers who contract COVID-19 are more likely to develop severe disease, to end up in intensive care and to die. Smokers should try to quit without delay. The benefits from quitting are immediate, including increased oxygen supply to the lungs, reduced risk of respiratory infections, and improvements in blood pressure. Longer-term benefits include significant reductions in the risk of developing cancer, heart disease and COPD.”
ASH is working with doctors in the NHS, Public Health England and health charities across the country to support smokers trying to quit at this difficult time. Deborah Arnott, Chief Executive of ASH, said: "This is a worrying time for all of us and people want to know how best to protect themselves and those around them. For smokers, quitting will immediately improve their health, as well as those around them and reduce the risk that if they contract coronavirus they will get life threatening symptoms. Smokers who get help to quit are three times as likely to succeed, and while face to face advice is not available currently, the TodayIsTheDay.co.uk website has lots of links and ideas, and if you tweet #QuitForCovid a trained adviser is on hand to answer your questions from 19:30 to 20:30 every evening.”
Source: News Medical, 16 April 2020
|
|
Dr Sharon Cox, Senior Research Fellow at London South Bank University, argues that now is not the time to afford smoking tacit approval:
"Working in drug and alcohol research for over 10 years, I am still shocked that one of the few daily comforts many people have is something that actively sickens and makes them poorer with every use. Yet, in times of crisis, in times of pain, and amongst poverty, smoking is afforded tacit approval. It remains one of the last socially permissive taboos that health professionals afford those with hard lives. There are many reasons for this; smoking is often neglected and given less priority amongst competing needs, the harms from smoking are distal and can be sidelined, and that smoking worsens mental illness and maintains poverty is not widely understood.
"[...] Smoking is perceived as a relief from psychological and physical pain, sought after because – like all stimulants – it is a mood lifter, offering stimulation amongst little else. During long days, smoking also helps time pass and is symbolic of different parts of the day, marking the passing hours with a cigarette becomes important. Then, so too, time of the day becomes a trigger for craving and the cycle continues.
"However, any relief and pleasure derived from the nicotine hit will be short lived as nicotine withdrawal comes on quickly and rapidly, reinforcing the need to smoke more and drag harder. A little-known fact, is that smokers often need higher doses of other medications. The toxic effect of tobacco on the blood system reduces uptake and efficacy of drugs, resulting in the need to take a higher dose of prescribed medication. This constant need for relief is expensive, an average packet of cigarettes nearing £10, taking money away from other pleasures. [...] Thus, smoking is not just associated with poverty, it plays an active role in maintaining it. It is certainly no more or less harmful the richer or poorer the smoker.
"Therefore, it should be of concern to all of us, that smoking is still very much afforded tacit approval, at least amongst the most disadvantaged – ‘the last pleasure’. This is an erroneous perception that contradicts the evidence. Indeed, review evidence shows that when adults with a mental illness quit smoking they can reduce their medications and report positive subjective well-being within weeks, this improves if maintained. More still, quitting is no less desired amongst the poorest groups within England and quit attempts are as frequent in those in social housing as those who are not… it is success that is low.
"Public Health England has recognised there may be a link between tobacco related vulnerabilities and Covid-19, and because smoking increases the risk of respiratory disease, cessation is in the public health spotlight. #Quitforcovid is trending on social media. This is a welcome public health initiative, but its long-term impact will only be as great as the people it reaches. Stop smoking services have faced a decade of financial cuts. Pharmacies, which are a source for over the counter nicotine replacement therapies, are reportedly overwhelmed. Vape shops have unfortunately been deemed non-essential, so can only supply online. The latter is particularly worrying as we now have over 3 million vapers in the UK, and vaping has become most popular method for quitting. However, in some cruel irony, tobacco in all its forms remains widely available. The sentiment to end smoking must be matched by the availability of the help.
"Tobacco researchers will be looking with interest on how Covid-19 has influenced the general downward trend in smoking prevalence rates in the UK, and if it has promoted quitting which demographic groups have responded most. The fear is that those with difficult lives, who can really benefit from quitting, will be talked out of it or simply cannot get access to the products they need."
Source: The Psychologist, 14 April 2020
|
|
Smokers in Dorset are being urged quit as evidence shows they are more likely to develop complications from COVID-19. Public Health Dorset is joining health professionals in calling on smokers to #QuitforCovid and offering free stop-smoking support through LiveWell Dorset.
Emerging evidence from China has revealed that smokers with COVID-19 are 14 times more likely to develop severe respiratory disease. Smoking tobacco is known to damage the lungs and airways causing a range of severe respiratory problems. The evidence clearly shows the COVID-19 virus attacks the respiratory system, explaining why smokers are at greater risk.
Public Health Dorset have also sought to clarify concerns around e-cigarettes. Whilst some media outlets are reporting that vapers face additional risks from coronavirus, the evidence for this is far less clear. Smokers who have switched to vaping should be reassured that this is better for them than smoking.
Cllr Laura Miller, Dorset Council’s Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care and Health, said: “Quitting smoking is hugely beneficial for your health at any time, but during the coronavirus outbreak it has become even more important. We know that quitting can be difficult, so we’d encourage Dorset residents to reach out for support through LiveWell Dorset’s stop-smoking offer or to use the range of useful resources that are available online.”
Cllr Lesley Dedman, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council’s Portfolio Holder for Adults and Health, said: “Not only will quitting smoking reduce your chances of being seriously affected by this virus, it’ll also help to protect your family, reduce pressure on the NHS and have a range of other health benefits. At this time more than ever, our health is of the highest importance so we hope as many smokers as possible in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole will #QuitforCOVID.”
Source: Dorset Echo, 16 April 2020
See also:
Public Health England - Smokers at greater risk of severe respiratory disease from COVID-19
Today is the Day - #QuitforCovid
Twitter - @QuitforCovid
|
|
Have you been forwarded this email? Subscribe to ASH Daily News here.
For more information call 020 7404 0242, email [email protected] or visit www.ash.org.uk
ASH Daily News is a digest of published news on smoking-related topics. ASH is not responsible for the content of external websites. ASH does not necessarily endorse the material contained in this bulletin.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
