Representational Image

Through a detailed document COVID-19 Pandemic and Tobacco Use in India, the Union Health Ministry, on Wednesday, asserted that smokers are more vulnerable to COVID-19 as smoking increases possibility of transmission of virus from hand to mouth.

The ministry also warned that smoking can increase severity of respiratory infections and can result in death due to COVID-19.

The document states: Smokers are likely to be more vulnerable to COVID-19 as the act of smoking means that fingers (and possibly contaminated cigarettes) are in contact with lips which increases the possibility of transmission of virus from hand to mouth.

Experts have confirmed that smokers are more likely to develop severe symptoms or die from COVID-19, as it primarily attacks the lungs. Further smoking products such as water pipes or hookah often involve the sharing of mouth-pieces and hoses, which could facilitate the transmission of COVID-19 in communal and social settings.

Also read : First human trial of COVID-19 vaccine COVAXIN? begins on 30-yr-old; over 3500 people apply for trial

The document further stated: Tobacco use is a major risk factor for the four main non-communicable diseases (NCDs) ? cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic lung disease and diabetes, which puts people with these conditions at high her risk for developing severe illness when affected by COVID-19. NCDs are estimated to account for 63% of all deaths in India and these are expected to rise further.

Evidence from countries reporting COVID-19 related fatalities has highlighted that the people with pre-existing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are more susceptible to becoming severely ill with COVID-19.

Also read : Smoking tobacco, weed could increase risk of severe COVID-19 infection, warns WHO

Tobacco, being one of the causes behind these NCDs, indirectly puts the tobacco users or/and smokers at risk of being affected by COVID-19. Moreover, tobacco use poses a significant risk by accelerating the transmission of COVID-19 because the virus spreads primarily through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

Chewing tobacco products (Khaini, Gutkha, Paan, Zarda) increases the urge to spit. Spitting in public places increases health risks especially those of spreading the infectious and contagious diseases like, COVID19, tuberculosis, swine flu, encephalitis, etc.