Short Communication
Year: 2021 | Month: March | Volume: 11 | Issue: 3 | Pages: 178-181
COVID-19 Outbreak: A Preferred Time for Tobacco Consumption Cessation to Support Healthcare Management
Rudra Dahal1, Bhupesh Khadka2, Khimananda Bhandari3
1Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
2Freelance Researcher, Calgary, AB, Canada
3Department of Education, Tribhuvan University, Nepal
Corresponding Author: Rudra Dahal
ABSTRACT
COVID-19 is caused by a novel coronavirus, which spreads through aerosols from the nose or mouth of an infected individual. Due to its highly infectious nature, it has negatively impacted individuals' physical, mental and social well-being. The global health care system has been overwhelmed to meet the extreme demand for resources due to the pandemic. Tobacco consumption is an established risk factor for many diseases including severity of COVID-19. In addition, habitual use of tobacco products also increases the risk of COVID-19 transmission through contaminated fingers and tobacco products. The increased risk of infection due to tobacco consumption and exposure to second-hand smoke to family members, may motivate smoking cessation. Health care providers should involve in offering evidence based pharmacological and behavioral smoking cessation interventions. This includes leveraging new technology to influence tobacco users, such as delivering telehealth services or apps that allow people increasing access to free or low-cost pharmacotherapy, toll-free quit lines, social media, nicotine replacement therapies, behavioral counselling, health education, and other approved medications. Thus, the pandemic is a unique opportunity to amplify the importance of modifying smoking behavior and tobacco consumption cessation. By doing so, we initiate towards a larger achievement to support global healthcare system and communities by effectively responding to the COVID-19.
Key words: COVID-19, Tobacco consumption cessation