Caring for your lungs, including avoiding tobacco smoke and e-cig aerosol, can help protect you from coronavirus, professors write
By Ellen Hahn and Chizimuzo T.C. Okoli
Professor & director, and associate professor, BREATHE, University of Kentucky
The novel coronavirus attacks our airways, making it difficult to breathe. It is particularly important to take special care of our lungs during the pandemic and beyond. Caring for our lungs can help us better avoid and fight this infection.
Most Kentuckians have heeded the pleas by our governor to practice social distancing, wash our hands, disinfect surfaces, and ‘stay healthy at home.’ All these activities help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. What else can we do to prevent getting and spreading this dangerous illness?
We stay ‘lung healthy’ at home by avoiding breathing tobacco smoke and aerosol, such as from vaping products, in and around our homes and cars.
Tobacco smoke and aerosol contain tiny particles that get trapped in the lungs, hurting our ability to fight off infection. Exposure to these particles happens in two ways: breathing in sidestream and mainstream smoke or aerosol.
If someone in your home smokes, uses electronic cigarettes, or vapes, there are ways to avoid exposing them and others to tobacco smoke or aerosol:
- Keep the air clean in your home by smoking or vaping at least 20 feet away from entryways, windows, and vents.
- Avoid using tobacco and vaping in the car; the smoke and aerosol can be very concentrated in this small space, even with the windows open.
- Consider that older adults, young children and those who already have breathing problems like asthma or emphysema are at greatest risk for breathing problems from smoke and aerosol exposure.
Avoiding using tobacco and electronic cigarettes inside your home and car will help everyone stay ‘lung healthy at home’. The coronavirus pandemic provides a perfect opportunity to stop using tobacco or vaping products.