Protect yourself from COVID-19: Stop smoking and vaping now
September 11, 2020
September 11, 2020
Doctors like me and many other health professionals are working to treat sick patients for the COVID-19 virus. The best ways for you to help are to stay home, wash your hands, and not smoke or vape.
Here are three good reasons why you should stop smoking and vaping now:
You can get free help to stop smoking and vaping! The California Smokers’ Helpline is here for you. Counselors will help you develop your own personal quit plan by phone or chat. Text and app programs are available too. It is great to work through the stress and anxiety with caring professionals during these times about how to stop. The counselors can also talk with you about medications like nicotine patches, gums, or lozenges that are over-the-counter and help manage cravings. You may be eligible for special offers that send free nicotine patches to your home.
Keep a smoke-free home to protect others as well. Secondhand smoke worsens lung health for nonsmokers, especially children.2 If you are a nonsmoker, contact the Helpline to find out how to help someone you love quit smoking or vaping.
Being smoke and tobacco-free is as important as washing your hands and covering your cough for your health and the health of your family and our community.
Written by
Elisa Tong, MD, MS
Associate Professor of Internal Medicine, University of California, Davis
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