The Doctor Said that Cigarette Smoke Lowered Immunity to Fight COVID-19

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JAKARTA - A pulmonary specialist revealed that exposure to cigarette smoke has been proven to reduce the immune system. Especially the immune system to fight the transmission of the SARS CoV 2 virus that causes COVID-19.

Chairperson of the Indonesian Association of Lung Specialists (PDPI), Dr. Agus Dwi Susanto, Sp.P (K), FAPSR, FISR, said that both active or passive smokers are more at risk of contracting COVID-19 because their immune system is weaker than a non-smoker.

"Cigarette smoke has been shown to reduce the immune system, especially the respiratory system. Immunity is important to prevent infection," Agus said as quoted by Antara, Wednesday, August 12.

Cigarette smoke is proven to interfere with the migration process of immunity cells when infection occurred in the body. So, the function of immune cells, which protect the body from viruses, also decreases. 

Agus also explained three other things that put smokers at a higher risk of contracting the COVID-19 virus. First, a smoker has more ACE-2 receptors than a nonsmoker.

The ACE-2 receptor is the same receptor that the SARS CoV 2 virus has. So, it becomes a site for transmission. "This study has been proven based on the pathological examination data of a smoker," said Agus.

Smokers are also more affected by various non-communicable diseases. Such as hypertension, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart disease, and others.  Meanwhile, COVID-19 becomes more dangerous when it infects people who have these comorbid diseases.

During this pandemic, smoking habits have a very high risk of transmitting the virus from hand to mouth or respiratory tract. Smokers who open their masks when smoking, or smokers who frequently hold cigarettes with their hands and then point them to their mouths repeatedly, can increase the virus transmission.