Special recommendations have been given by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for people who are considered high risk. One group who fits that description is vapers and smokers.
COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus which affects the person’s lungs, often making it difficult to breathe. Symptoms begin with a dry cough and may include shortness of breath. For many, they may end up in the hospital on a ventilator to help them get the oxygen they need. There is some concern that if the virus spreads too quickly in some areas, there may not be enough ventilators for everyone who needs them.
Many people who develop the virus will be able to recover at home. While they may have issues with a cough and shortness of breath, they are still able to breathe on their own. The people most susceptible to complications and in need of a ventilator are those with diminished lung capacity from other things.
Regular smokers fall into this category because smoking isn’t good for your lungs. People who are vaping are also at risk because there are some concerns that vaping may cause damage to the lungs. In the summer of 2019, a mysterious illness began to be diagnosed in people who vaped. The illness caused many people to go to the hospital because they had difficulty breathing. The patients were often put on ventilators to help them get the oxygen they needed until they could recover. Several people died from the illness, which was first often diagnosed as pneumonia but later recognized as a vaping illness.
Even those who recovered haven’t all returned to normal. There is some concern that the illness caused permanent damage to their lungs. This puts them in a higher risk for developing serious complications from COVID-19 if they are exposed to the virus and test positive.
A study on smoking that was completed in China indicates that smokers have a 14x higher chance of becoming severely ill with COVID-19 if they get the virus than people who don’t smoke. Their risk of getting pneumonia goes up by 14 percent as well. There is strong belief that vaping has similar issues, especially for those who have already had the vaping illness.
The CDC and other organizations recommend that people stop vaping until more research can be done about the dangers and safety of vaping. As COVID-19 spreads across the US, it becomes more critical to protect oneself. Along with all the necessary precautions to avoid exposure to the disease, it’s also important to be as healthy as possible if a person should become ill. Avoiding all vaping products can make a difference. Vaping products led to the lung disease which harmed people of all ages, including causing deaths in teens and young adults. COVID-19 is even more deadly, which is why vapers should take it seriously and protect themselves as much as possible. Following the CDC recommendations on vaping is an integral part of the process.
