Stopping smoking can reduce your risk of coronavirus

The HSE is calling on people who smoke to take the 28-day no smoking challenge this October and reduce their risk of coronavirus. Research shows that smoking is a risk factor for coronavirus infection. Studies also show that smoking increases your risk of acute respiratory infections like flu. Just like flu, a coronavirus infection may be more severe in people who smoke.

The HSE has launched the #LastStop challenge to encourage people who smoke to give up for 28 days. This is because people who stop smoking for 28 days are five times more likely to quit for good. Free, personalised support for anyone who wants to quit is available through the HSE’s Quit Service.

Dr Paul Kavanagh, HSE Public Health Medicine Specialist, says: “Smoking increases your risk of acute respiratory infections like COVID-19 in a number of ways. Smoking with other people, sharing cigarettes and touching your face and mouth help spread infections. Cigarette smoke damages the natural barriers in your airways and lungs to infections, dampens down your immunity and affects your breathing and circulation in a way that makes you vulnerable to severe illness and complications of infection."

He added: "COVID-19 is a new disease and we are learning a lot about its effects. Even at this early stage, available evidence points to smoking as a key factor leading to increased severity of disease and death in hospitalised COVID-19 patients. This is in addition to the already well-established and significant health risks of smoking."

Dr Kavanagh said improvements to your health when you quit smoking begin immediately.

When you stop smoking, the natural hairs in your airways (cilia) and the immune cells that fight infection bounce back and begin to work again to help you fight infection. Within one to two days, the oxygen levels in your body will improve. Your blood pressure and pulse reduces, which in turn decreases the overall stress on your body. "All these things are good defences against coronavirus and give you the best fighting chance against acute respiratory infections like COVID-19," said Dr Kavanagh.

The HSE helps people to stop smoking throughout the year. On an average day, the service supports 1,500 people to stop smoking. Demand for online help to quit has increased this year throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

There are a number of ways in which people can get help to quit:

· A free Quit Kit to help you prepare

· Messages or phone calls from the Quitline

· Advice on Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) and stop smoking medication

· An online-personalised Quit plan where you can track your progress

· One to one support from a Stop Smoking Advisor

· Daily tips and support from people who have quit and are trying to quit on the You Can Quit Facebook page.

Michelle O’Donnell from Donegal, stopped smoking after 36 years during the pandemic. Like most people who smoke, she had tried to quit up several times but this time things were different. Michelle says:

“I had used the HSE’s Quitline Service before and I decided to try again. I 100% would not have been able to do it without them. It was like having a best friend supporting me for the first four weeks of stopping smoking. As well as speaking to someone on the phone every week, I signed up for the daily texts and emails and these really helped keep my motivation up. I found during Covid-19, it was a good time to do it, I’m not out and about as much due to restrictions, you don’t have the normal social pressures,” said Michelle.

Contact

The HSE QUIT service provides personalised, free support by phone, email, SMS and live chat. Smokers can free call 1800-201-203 or visit www.QUIT.ie for stop smoking tips and resources.