What does COVID-19 mean for former smokers, marijuana users?

Doctors around the world are telling smokers the best thing they can do in the face of the coronavirus pandemic is kick the habit as soon as possible.

But what about former smokers who quit a year, five years, 10 years, or even 30 years ago? If they catch COVID-19, do they have a greater risk of complications?

Dr. Meilan Han with the American Lung Association said preliminary data from China and Europe shows that people with chronic lung disease can contract more severe cases of coronavirus.

“When you look at the characteristics of patients that tended to do poorly, having a chronic condition like heart disease, diabetes, and chronic lung disease certainly were associated with more severe disease and more progressive disease,” she said. “So based on the data we have so far, it certainly does appear to be a risk factor for a worse outcome.”

And, those who have made a habit of smoking are more likely to have chronic lung problems.

“It is likely that people who have smoked have some degree of lung abnormality; even if they have quit, that could put them at some increased risk,” Han said.

Gov. Inslee announces ban on flavored vaping products statewide

So if you quit smoking years ago, your history can put you in a higher risk category — and your risk goes up with the number of years you smoked.

Emphysema causes air sacs in the lungs to expand, which makes the lungs “large and floppy,” Han explained.

“Instead of being like a nice tight rubber band, it acts like an old rubber band that has completely lost its elasticity,” she said.

And that’s just one of the effects smoking can have.

“Unfortunately, long-term smoke exposure can also cause inflammation of the airways and scarring of the airways,” Han said. “It may actually even cause loss of some of the airways.”

Long-term smoking can inflame and scar your airways, put holes in your lungs, and can even cause loss of airways, Han said.

Han said it’s too early to tell yet what effect the use of marijuana and vape pens may have on COVID-19 patients, but she noted that anything lungs breathe that is not clean air is in general a bad idea.

“I think there is reason to think, given all of the chemicals that are in vaping liquid, that vaping can cause lung inflammation,” she said. “It’s just not a good idea.”

She explained that the lungs act as a filter for the rest of the body.

“The lungs really were not designed for chronic exposure to air pollution, to smoke, or even to vaping,” she said. “It all can cause short-term inflammation.”

For those smokers who haven’t managed to quit yet, Han said it is never too late. Cardio-vascular benefits to smoking cessation begin on the first day. The American Lung Association has many resources on its website to help people quit.

“It’s not too late to stop, and now would be a great time to stop,” Han said.

Follow @NicoleKIROFM