{ ‘Smokers, tobacco consumers more prone to Covid-19’

Those who smoke or consume tobacco are more vulnerable to Covid-19 infection as the process increases the chances of transmission of virus from hand to mouth, said doctors of Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGI), Lucknow.

“Even the World Health Organisation (WHO) has accepted this fact,” claimed the experts ahead of ‘No Tobacco Day’ on May 31.

“The WHO has also warned that people who consume tobacco have up to 50 per cent higher risk of developing serious illnesses and dying due to Covid-19,” said Dr OP Sanjeev, in charge of Covid facilities in Rajdhani Covid hospital of SGPGI.

“In fact, consumption of any sort of tobacco, including gutkha and cigarette enhances the chances of respiratory diseases and cancer,” he said.

Dr Rakesh Kapoor, director of Medanta Hospital, Lucknow said, “The risk of developing cancers, heart disease and respiratory illnesses rise among tobacco users.”

“We come across at least two patients displaying pre cancer symptoms in the OPD daily. All these patients take tobacco in one form or other,” said Dr Himangi Dubey, assistant professor, BBD University. Prof Suryakant, HoD respiratory medicine at KGMU, said, “Smoking reduces immunity in the body and gives infection such as Covid to attack the person.”