Smokers and people with COPD who suffer from chronic constricted Airways, seem to develop more severe on the new Coronavirus. This could be due to the fact that you an enzyme in the lungs occurs increasingly used by the Virus as a point of attack. Now is therefore the ideal time to give up Smoking, say the study researchers.

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In smokers and patients with COPD – chronic obstructive pulmonary disease – the Angiotensin-Converting enzyme II, known as ACE-2 is found in higher quantity in the lungs. Previous studies have shown that ACE-2 is on the surface of lung cells is the entry point for the corona virus, they infect the cells.

Canadian researchers had wondered why a patient with COPD in China, ill severe to COVID-19. They had a suspicion that this might be due to the ACE-2 levels in the Airways. In "European Respiratory Journal" reports, you have found indeed, in the comparison of 21 COPD patients with 21 people without COPD, people with COPD had more ACE-2 in the lungs.

Not only that, but Also in smokers, the enzyme was increased. Then, they examined 249 non-smokers, current smokers and ex-smokers, and again observed that the ACE-2 levels were current smokers higher than in non-smokers and former smokers.

Dr. Janice Leung from the University of British Columbia and St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver said: "We have found that patients with COPD and people who smoke still have one more ACE-2 in your Airways, which could lead to an increased risk for the development of severe COVID-19-infections. The scientist is convinced that there has never been a better time to quit than now to protect yourself from Covid-19. Patients with COPD should be advised to strictly adhere to social distancing and proper hand hygiene to prevent infections."

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