Mohd Khairul Nizam Aharudin had a scare recently when he suffered from a bad cough and even had shortness of breath.
Worried that he may have contracted COVID-19, the 36-year-old supervisor at Penang Port Commission, who was a hardcore smoker, got himself tested for the disease in early March. The result was negative and further health checks revealed that he had asthma.
But for Mohd Khairul Nizam, the episode turned out to be a wake-up call to change his lifestyle and kick his smoking habit.
He realised that since he was a smoker and had hypertension as well, he was at high risk of suffering from severe complications if he is infected by the coronavirus.
On March 9, he decided to go cold turkey, which was a “Herculean” task for him considering that he had been a heavy smoker for 19 years and needed nearly 30 cigarettes a day to satisfy his nicotine craving.
“But I summoned all my willpower to do it (quit smoking) because I couldn’t bear to think of my wife and children (aged four and eight) having to suffer if I became ill due to my bad habit,” he told Bernama.
It was not easy for Mohd Khairul Nizam to quit smoking so suddenly. Initially, he felt restless and would get angry easily and also had headaches and felt nauseous, all classic symptoms of nicotine withdrawal syndrome that lasted a week.
More than two months have now gone by since he gave up smoking and he feels that he has gained a new lease of life.
“I feel much healthier and also feel that I’ve a new pair of lungs. The best part is, I can’t even tolerate the smell of cigarettes now!” he said.
At a time when the government and people are talking about the importance of observing the new normal, for Mohd Khairul Nizam leading a healthier lifestyle is the ‘new normal’.
“If a hardcore smoker like me can give up smoking, anyone else can do it too. All they need is determination,” he said.
To ensure he remains consistent and adheres to his nicotine-free lifestyle, Mohd Khairul Nizam has been keeping his Facebook friends updated on his progress and even inspired some of them to quit smoking as well.
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia community health expert Prof Dr Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh, meanwhile, said the current pandemic is a good time for smokers to give up the habit, as they face a higher risk of suffering from severe complications, should they get infected as the virus primarily attacks the lungs.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), studies have shown that smokers are at higher risk of developing severe COVID-19 outcomes.
This, said Dr Sharifa Ezat, is due to the fact that most heavy and chronic smokers have lungs that have been damaged by the chemicals produced by the burning tobacco.
“If they contract COVID-19, they may end up in a critical condition. Smokers also usually have other health issues like diabetes, heart disease, cancer and high blood pressure.
“The existence of other diseases increases the risk of death for COVID-19 patients, more so if they are senior citizens,” said Dr Sharifa Ezat, who is also deputy dean of UKM’s Medical Faculty.
Recent studies by WHO have indicated that smokers are likely to be more vulnerable to COVID-19 through contact with fingers and lips with contaminated cigarettes.
MailOnline, the website of UK newspaper the Daily Mail, carried a report yesterday stating that 300,000 Britons have quit smoking due to COVID-19 fears.
Are electronic cigarettes or vapes safe to use? No, according to Dr Sharifa Ezat. She said although there were not many studies linking COVID-19 with e-cigarette (nicotine-free) smokers, but the e-liquid refills used in e-cigarettes containing propylene glycol, glycerine, acetaldehyde or diacetyl may lead to lung damage.
“Propylene glycol and glycerine can be used for cooking purposes but not to be inhaled into the lungs. Anyway, considering that e-cigarette smokers and vapers have a history of smoking cigarettes, their lungs are probably already damaged,” she added.
Commenting on the danger posed by passive smoking, Dr Sharifa Ezat said during the Movement Control Order and conditional MCO, many smokers would have been smoking at home, thus exposing their family members to passive smoking.
“People exposed to passive smoking face the same risks as smokers themselves. In fact, the risk of getting cancer increases by 20 to 30 per cent and heart disease by 25 to 40 per cent for passive smokers who live with smokers,” she said.
Commenting on the danger of third-hand smoke, Kuala Lumpur Pantai Hospital lung specialist Dr Helmy Haja Mydin said residual nicotine and other chemicals left on indoor surfaces by tobacco smoke can cause people to be exposed to these chemicals when they touch contaminated surfaces or breath in the off-gassing from these surfaces.
Dr Helmy said the nicotine and other substances can cling to clothes, furniture, walls, bedding, carpets, dust, vehicles and other surfaces long after smoking has stopped. The residue from thirdhand smoke also builds up on surfaces over time.
“Children and non-smoking adults might be at risk of tobacco-related health problems when they inhale, swallow or touch substances containing third-hand smoke,” he added.
-- BERNAMA
Bernama
Mon Jun 01 2020
Recent studies by WHO have indicated that smokers are likely to be more vulnerable to COVID-19. - FILEpic
Freedom Flotilla to Gaza: Misi sekali lagi ditangguhkan, dijangka berlepas pada Jumaat
Ketika ini lokasi kapal memulakan pelayaran akan ditukarkan ke satu lokasi yang akan diumumkan dalam masa terdekat.
Pihak produksi masih terima Naim Daniel jika ubah fikiran
Ketua saluran Astro Ria, Norzeha Mohd Salleh memberitahu bahawa pihak produksi masih lagi memberi ruang kepada penyanyi tersebut untuk mempertimbangkan semula tawaran yang diberikan.
The Hardest Singing Show cabar kreativiti penyanyi tempatan
Program The Hardest Singing Show mencari satu juara yang mampu menyahut cabaran kreativiti luar limitasi.
Pekerja Ahli Parlimen EU disyaki jadi pengintip China
Polis Jerman telah menahan seorang pekerja ahli politik Parlimen Eropah Alternative for Germany (AfD) kerana disyaki menjadi pengintip China.
Amaran ribut hujan tahap tertinggi dikeluarkan di Guangdong, selatan China
Lebih 100,000 orang sudah dipindahkan akibat hujan lebat dan banjir yang boleh membawa maut di selatan China.
Jokowi dan anaknya bukan lagi ahli PDIP
Presiden Indonesia Joko Widodo atau Jokowi dan anaknya, bakal naib presiden Gibran Rakabuming Raka, bukan lagi ahli parti terbesar negara itu selepas mereka menyokong calon pesaing yang juga pemenang pilihan raya Prabowo Subianto.
Lima migran maut ketika cuba memasuki Perancis
Lima termasuk seorang kanak-kanak, maut dalam cubaan menyeberangi Selat Inggeris dari Perancis pada Selasa.
Polis New York lakukan penahanan himpunan lewat malam
Polis New York bertindak melakukan penahanan membabitkan peserta yang terlibat dalam himpunan solidariti terhadap Palestin di Universiti New York (NYU) pada lewat malam Isnin. Penahanan itu dibuat selepas mereka didakwa mengingkari arahan amaran pihak universiti untuk bersurai dan mengosongkan plaza yang menjadi tempat mereka berkumpul.
Break The Siege: Ada kemungkinan lokasi pelepasan kapal ditukar
Jawatankuasa Pemandu Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), Kamarul Zaman Shaharul Anwar memaklumkan, wujud kemungkinan lokasi pelabuhan bagi pelepasan kapal yang terlibat dalam misi Break the Siege of Gaza Freedom Flotilla ditukar.
Benarkan syarikat milik bukan Islam cetak Al-Quran, pengarah syarikat didenda
Seorang pengarah syarikat percetakan dijatuhi hukuman denda RM8,000 atau penjara lima bulan oleh Mahkamah Majistret Petaling Jaya pada Selasa selepas mengaku salah tidak mematuhi syarat-syarat lesen untuk mencetak atau menerbitkan Teks al-Quran, bulan lepas.
Memerangi kanser payudara ketika pandemik COVID-19
Kebanyakan kanser payudara bermula dari sel yang melapisi bahagian saluran (ductal cancer), sebahagian lain bermula pada kelenjar lobul (lobular cancer) dan selebihnya bermula dari tisu-tisu lain.
Pesakit kanser cabar diri sendiri terima kad Krismas dari seluruh Amerika
Ternyata dengan kuasa media sosial, Ryan menerima 3000 kad daripada kesemua 50 negeri di Amerika Syarikat dan 29 negara.
Angelina Jolie umum buang ovari bimbang terjadi kanser
Angelina Jolie hari ini mengumumkan bahawa beliau telah menjalani pembedahan membuang ovari dan tiub fallopio dua tahun lepas.