US Expert: "If Infected with COVID-19, Lung Condition Worsens More Than in Smokers"

"Dark Scars Found in Lungs from X-ray Imaging Results"

Chest X-ray image / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] It has been claimed that lung health deteriorates more rapidly in people infected with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) than in those who have smoked for a long time.

On the 14th (local time), Dr. Britney Bankhead-Kendall of Texas Tech University, who appeared on the US CBS broadcast, stated, "It has been rare not to find dense scarring in the lungs of COVID-19 patients on X-ray results," adding, "Their condition is worse compared to smokers."

According to Dr. Kendall, the worse the lung condition, the more white areas appear on the X-ray. In a normal lung, the X-ray image is mostly black, indicating a healthy state with plenty of air.

However, smokers' lungs show white areas scattered due to scarring and congestion.

The problem lies with those infected with COVID-19. Their lungs appear almost entirely white on X-rays.

Dr. Kendall further added that even asymptomatic infected individuals show severe scarring in their lungs on X-rays in nearly 70-80% of cases.

This means that infection with COVID-19 can lead to long-term lung disease.

Dr. Kendall urged, "If you feel shortness of breath even after recovery, you should continuously consult your primary care physician," and emphasized vaccination by saying, "The side effects of the vaccine cannot be worse than the long-term effects COVID-19 may have."

Meanwhile, according to CBS, Dr. Kendall has been treating thousands of COVID-19 patients since March of last year.