South Africa is currently under a 21-day lockdown period to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now more than ever, we need to focus on doing all we can to be healthier and to protect the body’s immunity. Stopping smoking is one of the important steps you can take during this period.

Use of tobacco products, including cigarettes and hookah pipes, weakens the immune system making it harder for the body to fight off viral and bacterial infections. Recent evidence also indicates that people exposed to tobacco smoke may experience more severe symptoms and may take longer to recover if they get infected with the coronavirus. This also means that they are at increased risk of progressing to the chronic stage of the COVID-19 disease. 

Electronic cigarettes are relatively new, but evidence of short-term use shows that they cause irreversible lung damage. They also compromise the lung defense system, resulting in poor response to infections. As such, people who use cigarettes and e-cigarettes depress the ability of their lungs to fight infections. Of more concern are people who use both cigarettes and e-cigarettes (dual users) as they might be at higher risk of damaging the lungs and the respiratory system.

When you stop smoking you reduce the risk, severity and duration of many infections. Even though this is very important in this period, the benefits of stopping smoking go beyond COVID-19. No matter how many times you have tried stopping smoking, how old you are or how many years you have been smoking, the benefits of stopping always outweigh the challenges you will face in trying to stop. 

The nicotine in cigarettes makes it difficult to stop smoking, but it is important to see the cravings and withdrawal symptoms as signs that your body is healing. Remind yourself of the rewards that come with stopping smoking to help you to stay away from cigarettes in these 21 days and beyond. 

The health benefits of not smoking

Stopping smoking has immediate health benefits.  If you manage to stop completely, the risk of stroke and heart disease can eventually fall to almost the same level as that of non-smokers.  Within 20 minutes after your last cigarette, your blood pressure and pulse begin to return to normal levels. Within 12 hours, the carbon monoxide levels lower and oxygen levels in your blood will increase to a normal level. Blood flow improves and in one day the risk of getting a heart attack is reduced. With improved circulation, increased oxygen levels and lowered inflammation, your immune system gets a boost.

In four to six days, the cleaning system in the lungs starts to recover and it begins to remove mucus and dirt from the smoke from your lungs. If you make it past the first week, you are nine times more likely to stop completely. For most people the withdrawal symptoms reach their worst in the first three days, when most of the nicotine leaves the body. So, once you go over one week, do not look back! When you’ve spent 14 days or more without smoking, you might notice that walking will become easier. Your blood circulation improves and your lung function will also increase by up to 30%.

In one to nine months, shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing lowers. After one year of stopping smoking, the risk of heart disease decreases to about half that of a smoker. Your lungs will have undergone a big change and will be functioning much better. After five years, your risk of strokes has reduced to that of a non-smoker and at 10 years your risk of lung cancer reduces to about half that of smokers. Each day without tobacco is worth it for your health.

You protect your loved ones

When we smoke, those around us breathe second-hand smoke and this weakens their immune system and can cause diseases like cancers too. This is something we must all consider in this lockdown period, where we will be spending most of our time with our children and family.

Second - hand smoke causes children’s lungs to develop poorly. Sometimes their lungs never grow to their full potential and they get infections like pneumonia and bronchitis more easily. It is also linked to other health problems in children including sudden infant death syndrome, ear infections, increased asthma attacks and new cases of asthma in children who did not have it before. Children exposed to second hand smoke also get sick more often and can get middle ear infections, which can lead to deafness.

It is also important to consider that children who grow up with parents who smoke are more likely to grow up to smoke themselves. When you stop smoking, you make it easier for your children not to start smoking.

With all these benefits for you and your family the best time to stop smoking is today.  You can call the National Council Against Smoking - Quitline at 011 720 3145 for tips to help you stop smoking. 

The Cancer Association of South Africa also runs an online programme which also provides support and information for smokers who would like to stop smoking. This can be accessed on http://www.ekickbutt.org.za/. 

The Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa has professional staff that can provide educational support during the challenging time you may face during trying to quit tobacco smoking. During the period of the lockdown, you may call 084 2507374 for assistance.