Quit Smoking To Prevent Lung Damage, Say Experts

Hyderabad: On the occasion of World Tobacco Day on Sunday, experts stressed on the need to quit smoking and using tobacco in other forms to prevent further damage to lungs. The theme for this year is ‘Quit Tobacco to be a Winner’.

While tobacco is known to cause majority of the cancers, its impact on lungs has become even more significant during the ongoing pandemic as patients having chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) due to tobacco use are at a risk of severe disease. “In light of the present pandemic, smokers also have a 50% higher chance of developing severe issues due to the novel coronavirus with increased risk of hospitalisation and need for ventilator,” said Dr P Vijay Karan Reddy, consultant radiation oncologist, Apollo Cancer Institute.