[ad_1]
(CNN) – The World Health Organization warned in a statement released today that a review of studies by public health experts convened by WHO last month found that smokers are “more likely to develop serious illnesses with COVID-19 compared to nonsmokers. ” “
The WHO noted that smoking affects lung function and makes it more difficult for the body to fight coronaviruses and other diseases.
Smoking tobacco is a known risk factor for many respiratory infections and increases the severity of respiratory illnesses.
“Tobacco is also a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases like cardiovascular disease, cancer, respiratory disease, and diabetes that put people with these conditions at increased risk of developing serious disease when affected by COVID-19,” he said. WHO in the statement.
Tobacco kills more than 8 million people worldwide each year. According to the WHO, more than 7 million of these deaths are due to direct tobacco use and around 1.2 million are due to non-smokers being exposed to secondhand smoke.
This story was first published on CNN.com, “The WHO warns that smokers are more likely to develop serious illness with COVID-19.”
[ad_2]
