Just Breathe…

Posted on March 27, 2020 in Awareness, News/Events, Substance Abuse Prevention

As most of us know, the COVID-19 disease caused by the coronavirus has be bombarding the news airways as of late. And this is because of the high rate of infections and the severity of what this virus can do to the body in serious cases that can lead to fatality. In case you missed it in the news, here’s a quick recap of how the virus works…

According to WebMD, COVID-19 starts in your respiratory tract (the airway between your mouth, nose, throat, and lungs). Then, it can travel into your lower respiratory tract, specifically into your lungs, because your lower airways have more of the specific receptors the virus needs to latch on to in order to invade other cells so it can make copies of itself (WebMD Medical Reference). When the infection reaches your lungs and multiplies, it makes it difficult to breathe. This can lead to pneumonia where your airways swell and your lungs fill with fluid. Fluid-filled lungs cannot do a great job in carrying the oxygen we breath to the blood. Therefore, the blood cannot supply enough oxygen to your organs… and you see where this can go (WebMD Medical Reference).

So it makes sense as to why the world has been in a slight state of panic and anxiety concerning this virus, especially seeing how easily contagious it is. The good news is that such cases as these are on the more severe side of the spectrum. Most people can recover before getting to this stage if they are in good health. What’s even more interesting is the the link to vaping. There have been circulating talks that vaping could put individuals at higher risks for the more severe effects of the COVID-19 illness. And the math makes sense… vaping has been shown to cause damage to your lungs (especially for teens who’s bodies are still developing) and if the virus get in, your fighting it with already damaged goods, making you more susceptible to a more severe and unfavorable outcome. So, during this time of social distancing, quarantines, and extra hand washing, let’s also make an effort to better protect our loved ones and youth by discouraging the use of vapes or from even picking up an e-cigarette. Talk to them about the dangers of vaping and educate them on the harms of tobacco use. For those that may have already been introduced to vaping, let’s encourage them to quit so we can all happily and healthily…. just breathe!
When it comes to smoking..quitters ALWAYS WIN!

Text “DITCHJUUL” to 887-09

Georgia Tobacco Quitline (GTQL): 1-877-270-STOP (877-270-7867)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Quitline: 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669)

 The National Cancer Institute Quitline: 877-44U-QUIT (877-448-7848)

 

References

WebMD Medical Reference. (2020, March 20). Coronavirus: What Happens When You Get Infected? WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/lung/coronavirus-covid-19-affects-body