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Scientists will study the potential of nicotine patches to fight COVID-19. The idea was voiced by doctors in a Welsh hospital who said that nicotine could reduce the risk of severe disease in smokers.
France has already taken steps to prevent stockpiling of nicotine products after the health minister became interested in a study that suggests smokers may be less likely to contract the coronavirus.
- You can read more about it in the material: Cigarettes and COVID-19. New research is controversial
At the same time, there is an ongoing discussion in Wales to analyze the effects of nicotine on the course of COVID-19 disease.
“We saw the pandemic coming from China and then scary stories from Italy, so we did our own research and looked at as many articles as possible,” Jonathan Davies of Royal Glamorgan told The Guardian, where doctors began handing out nicotine patches to smokers who were hospitalized due to coronavirus infection. They then published a short article in the British Medical Journal. They stated in it that at least in those who smoke regularly, coronavirus-related lung disease may be exacerbated as a result of withdrawal from nicotine. According to the authors, the addictive stimulant is likely to interfere with the processes that lead to inflammation.
«I would like to emphasize that the overwhelming evidence shows that smokers should stop smoking immediately, but it would probably be best to do so with nicotine patches to gradually lower the nicotine levels in their bodies to avoid the sudden withdrawal effects that could theoretically exacerbate their COVID infection -19 »Davies told Wales Online.
Prof. Judith Hall of Cardiff University has decided to support the Welsh Doctors’ project and seek financial support for research into the links between nicotine and COVID-19.
WHO treats reports on nicotine cautiously
The World Health Organization (WHO) says it is now there is insufficient evidence to support theses regarding the association of nicotine with the course of COVID-19 disease and the risk of coronavirus infection. It is of the opinion that smokers who become infected with the coronavirus may be particularly at risk of severe infection due to lung damage caused by the toxic effects of tobacco smoke. A clinical trial project with nicotine patches is awaiting approval in France.
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