Cigarette smokers LESS vulnerable to Covid-19?
By The Horse
@TheHorse (220201)
Walnut Creek, California
May 13, 2020 2:19pm CST
I just read a New York Times article that, overall, was not very encouraging. In the article, some scientists are cited as saying 70% of US citizens will get the covid-19 virus. What will vary is how severe their reactions are.
One oddity in the article was the suggestion that smokers may be less likely to have severe reactions to the virus. In France, 25% of all males smoke, while only 5% admitted to hospitals for severe reactions to the virus smoke.
I'm going to have to fire one up and think about this. Here are my questions: Will these findings be replicated in other countries? If this is true, what is it about smoking that makes Covid-19 symptoms less serious? Does the extra phlegm most smokers have protect them against the virus? Is nicotine a Covid-19 antagonist?
What do you think?
19 people like this
17 responses
@LindaOHio (181498)
• United States
13 May 20
I think, regardless, you shouldn't smoke! Just sayin'!!! 
5 people like this
@TheHorse (220201)
• Walnut Creek, California
13 May 20
@LindaOHio As Maluse says, it's kind of a pick your poison situation.
3 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (108037)
• Marion, Ohio
13 May 20
I seen that a few days ago. Glad I havent stopped smoking yet.
4 people like this
@FourWalls (68970)
• United States
13 May 20
@myklj999 — that’s why they call it a stock pot. 
2 people like this
@BarBaraPrz (47656)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
13 May 20
I think it's all that tar lining smokers' lungs... the virus just can't cut through. 
2 people like this
@FourWalls (68970)
• United States
13 May 20
I’ll repeat what I’ve said since, oh, March 24....
THEY DON’T KNOW. So they should just go to the patron saint of silence, ST FU.
(Since you like “Go Fund Yourself” so much you might appreciate that one....
)
)4 people like this
@FourWalls (68970)
• United States
13 May 20
@myklj999 — at least you smoke so you’re less vulnerable!
3 people like this
@saundyl (9783)
• Canada
14 May 20
@TheHorse I suffer from allergies this time of year and often get the sniffles or a cough because of them. I admit when I experience this my reaction is to take allergy meds and see if it stops.
I had to do blood work at the hospital yesterday and they asked me if i had experienced sore muscles... And i said of course my arm has ached every day for the last four months. And the nurse cleared me.
1 person likes this
@UmiNoor (4522)
• Malaysia
14 May 20
I would have thought that smokers will have compromised lungs and since the covid 19 virus attacks the lungs, perhaps the virus would be more severe to them. But I haven’t read or heard anything about smokers being more susceptible to the virus. Perhaps, this virus only attacks healthy lungs? I don’t know. So much is still not known about this virus. And so much misinformation too out there. More research is needed.
1 person likes this
@cmoneyspinner (9219)
• Austin, Texas
14 May 20
Smokers are breathing off half a lung already. They probably wouldn't even notice the difference in their respiratory system. I mean ... I don't smoke. But my brother was a heavy smoker and he didn't know he had lung cancer until the military doctors told him when they gave him a physical exam. So I guess he was already used to breathing with a bad lung. Just sayin'.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (80681)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
14 May 20
I am not sure what to think. Back in Latvia my husband and I were social smokers and smoked when we had cocktails. Of course, I smoked quite a bit after my husband passed on it was such a nervous time. Now I have not smoked since I arrived in Florida I have no need to. However, the cat I babysit Cheese his daddy smokes and quite a lot but he sits out on my porch to smoke. I don't know how such a smelly habit can help in any way.
1 person likes this
@jrlcentral (2605)
• Roxas, Philippines
13 May 20
I don't think having a less severe reaction means they don't get the virus. The danger here is, smokers might show less or no symptoms but carry and spread the virus to others.
1 person likes this
@jrlcentral (2605)
• Roxas, Philippines
13 May 20
@TheHorse thanks. Smoker or not, staying at home is still our best defense for now.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (220201)
• Walnut Creek, California
13 May 20
@jrlcentral Agreed. That's what I'm doing these days. Except when I go shopping.
1 person likes this
@paigea (36315)
• Canada
13 May 20
I am skeptical for now. If one's lungs are damaged by smoke and this is a respiratory illness?
Now if one's lungs are not yet damaged, maybe there is something in the nicotine?
Have to wait for more evidence. But, I am not going to start smoking!
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
13 May 20
So if we smoke, we may avoid the virus but nailed with cancer?
1 person likes this
