Here’s Why Hookah Isn’t Worse Than Cigarettes

Smoking hookah isn’t worse than smoking cigarettes, but it is just as dangerous. Tobacco use through a hookah, also known as a water pipe, has deep roots in Indian and Persian cultures, where it has been enjoyed for centuries. This device allows users to inhale flavored tobacco, often mixed with sweeteners, through a water-filled chamber, with popular flavors including apple, coconut, and mint. In recent years, hookah has gained popularity among younger generations, often seen as a trendy social activity. Many believe it to be a safer alternative to traditional cigarette smoking. However, emerging scientific evidence challenges this perception.Research published by Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine reveals that smoking hookah can be as harmful, if not more so, than smoking cigarettes. The study highlights that hookah smoke can lead to blood clotting within just 11 seconds of inhalation, a significantly shorter time than the five minutes typically required for blood to clot without exposure to hookah smoke. This rapid effect increases the risk of serious cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks and strokes.

Health Risks of Hookah Smoking

Hookah smoking is associated with several health risks similar to those linked with cigarette use. The smoke from a hookah pipe contains many of the same toxic chemicals and carcinogens found in cigarette smoke, such as nicotine, tar, and heavy metals. Even though the smoke passes through water, this does not eliminate the hazardous and addictive chemicals released from the tobacco. the health risks include;

Nicotine Addiction: Hookah tobacco contains nicotine, a highly addictive substance that can lead to long-term dependency. Many people, especially young people, see hookah smoking as a first step toward addiction. Even infrequent and flavored hookah use can lead to a dependence on nicotine. Hookah smoking is also linked to an increased risk of starting cigarette smoking, becoming a regular smoker, and smoking more cigarettes per day.

Cancer Risks: Hookah tobacco and smoke contain several toxic agents known to cause lung, bladder, and oral cancers. The charcoal used to heat the tobacco can raise health risks by producing high levels of carbon monoxide, metals, and cancer-causing chemicals. Tobacco juices from hookahs also irritate the mouth and increase the risk of developing oral cancers.

Respiratory Issues: Inhaling smoke from a hookah can impair lung function and increase the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and bronchitis. The smoke from a hookah is at least as toxic as cigarette smoke, and the heat sources used to burn hookah tobacco release dangerous substances like carbon monoxide. Babies born to people who smoked water pipes while pregnant are also at increased risk for respiratory diseases. Also the water in the hookah does not filter out harmful substances, allowing toxic components to enter the lungs.

Cardiovascular Disease: The inhalation of carbon monoxide and other harmful chemicals can lead to elevated heart rates and blood pressure, significantly increasing the risk of heart disease. Hookah smoke contains many toxic agents that can cause clogged arteries and heart disease. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention and World Health Organization (WHO) reports have shown that hookah smoke delivers significantly higher levels of toxins compared to cigarettes. In a typical 1-hour hookah smoking session, users may inhale 100–200 times the amount of smoke they would inhale from a single cigarette.
Lung Disease

Secondhand Smoke Exposure: Just like cigarettes, hookah smoking produces secondhand smoke, which can harm non-smokers nearby. This is particularly concerning in social settings where hookahs are often shared.

Hookah vs. Cigarettes

Cigarettes typically contain between 7 and 22 milligrams of nicotine, with smokers absorbing about 1 milligram per cigarette. In contrast, a single session of hookah can expose users to nicotine levels equivalent to smoking a pack of 20 cigarettes. National Jewish Health shared that this significant difference arises because a bowl of flavored tobacco used in hookah can contain a high concentration of nicotine, leading to greater absorption during prolonged sessions. An average hookah session lasts between 30 to 60 minutes, during which a smoker can take approximately 200 puffs, inhaling around 90,000 milliliters of smoke. In comparison, a cigarette session usually involves about 20 puffs and around 500-600 milliliters of smoke inhaled.

According to the American Lung Association report, The health risks associated with hookah smoking are often underestimated. Hookah smoke contains six times more carbon monoxide and 46 times more tar compared to cigarette smoke. This is largely due to the way hookah is smoked; the process involves inhaling smoke that has passed through water, which many mistakenly believe filters out harmful substances. However, studies indicate that this filtration is minimal, and the smoke still contains a plethora of toxic chemicals, including those released from burning charcoal used to heat the tobacco. Consequently, hookah smokers are exposed to higher levels of harmful agents than cigarette smokers, leading to similar, if not greater, health risks.

In conclusion many people perceive hookah as a safer alternative to cigarettes because of the water filtration process. However, this belief is misleading.

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