Does Vaping Spread the Coronavirus?

coronavirus under a microscope

The topic of health feels like a never-ending discussion in 2020 and we all know the main reason – the Coronavirus. Because it’s a respiratory disease ‘passed through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an infected person coughs or sneezes‘, you could get it from people nearby or via surfaces. Those at more risk include the elderly or with an already existing health condition, such as cancer or a lung infection. Therefore, the debate about Covid-19 and the risk to smokers and vapers continues, with no concrete answer as of yet.

Scientists, medical researchers and government officials are working around the clock to answer the question of the damage it does to smokers. We already know of the effects smoking a cigarette has on the body, due to the thousands of unnecessary chemicals. During the year of Covid-19, that changed life as we know it, it’s important now more than ever to give up smoking. Turning the attention to vaping, because there are fewer studies of this relatively new trend, there’s even less evidence of the consequences or risks when you vape. Nevertheless, let’s investigate.

Are Vapers At More Risk of Catching Covid-19?

In the past few years, we are seeing more evidence that vaping could be better for you than smoking cigarettes. With some of the key ingredients including natural substances like Vegetable Glycerine and Propylene Glycol, vaping is far less damaging to the body. And because the vapour particles evaporate much quicker, they will not stay in the air as long as a sneeze or cough.

Therefore, it’s less likely you could catch Covid-19 purely by vaping. However, sharing devices is a resounding no at all costs, because you increase the chances of spreading infections from the mouth, hands and nose to others.

Also, it’s wise that if you decide to vape, to avoid spreading the risk of the Coronavirus should you have it, vaping on your own while at home or outside with nobody around. This will help to avoid secondhand smoke passing to relatives or friends. While obviously somebody who neither smokes or vapes stands a much better chance of not contracting Covid-19, evidence suggests vaping is the least likely of the two. That’s because you do not have substances like tar blocking the lungs, causing as many infections. If you need more advice surrounding the differences between Vaping and smoking during Covid-19, you can find it here.

Stop Smoking During Covid-19 and Beyond

Covid-19 is not going away anytime soon, so protecting your health both physically and mentally is more important than ever. While we are not advocating vaping as a health benefit, for ex-smokers it’s the next step to reduce nicotine. Why? Because It’s incredibly difficult to go cold turkey and give up completely. Therefore at a time where the future is unknown, stopping smoking is a great start to boost your health and the best way to avoid increasing the chances of contracting the Coronavirus.

While the pandemic continues and scientists try to catch up with the developing immunity disease, research is mixed, with a variety of results. Some wild reports suggest smoking could protect you, although there is very little evidence to back this up. Meanwhile, the latest from the World Health Organization suggests ‘smoking is associated with increased severity of disease and death in hospitalized COVID-19 patients’.

What’s Next For Vapers

It’s a strange time for everyone as we adjust to wearing masks in every location, meeting others in smaller groups and work from home. For vapers, there is concern surrounding the subject of Covid-19. No vaper will want to harm others by spreading germs should they be Covid-19 positive. Nevertheless, reports state it’s a better method than other replacement nicotine therapies like lozenges or patches, and if the danger increases while smoking during the pandemic, vaping appears a wiser option between the two.

Looking at all the medical research and investigation, there is no definitive answer because Covid-19 is still a relatively new infection. On a global scale, it’s causing widespread panic and sadly cost millions of lives. Contradictory reports offer different verdicts of whether vaping and coronavirus are linked, and in some cases nothing more than media speculation and hype. What we do know is smoking attacks the lungs and other parts of the body in a more damaging way in comparison to vaping. As an alternative, if you want to stop smoking, which is an increasing trend during 2020, vaping reduces the chances of returning to cigarettes.