What affects you more: Hookah or cigarettes?

Shisha smokers inhales almost a litre of smoke which is equivalent to 100 or more cigarettes in one session

You might have thought Sisha or Hookah smoking is safer than cigarettes, but that's not true.

Research, provided by Dr. Vivek Nangia, Director and Head of Pulmonology Department of Fortis Flt. Lt. Rajan Dhall Hospital in the national capital, shows that it is actually several times more dangerous than smoking cigarettes.

It is presumed that the water absorbs the toxins from the smoke rendering it safe for the smoker. On the contrary, the smoke that emerges from the water bowl has several toxicants known to cause lung cancer, heart diseases and other diseases.

In fact, a shisha smoking session may expose the smoker to more smoke than over a longer period of time than cigarette thus increasing the hazards by many folds. Cigarettes smokers typically smoke a cigarette for five to seven minutes taking eight to twelve puffs of 40 - 75 ml each.

In total contrast, shisha smoking session lasts 30-80 minutes or even longer and a smoker inhales almost a litre of smoke which is equivalent to 100 or more cigarettes in one session.

This smoke contains high levels of toxic compounds, including tar, carbon monoxide, heavy metals and cancer-causing chemicals (carcinogens). It contains the same amount of nicotine as cigarette smoking, possibly leading to tobacco dependence.

The hazards caused are listed below.

1. The charcoal used to heat the tobacco can produces high levels of carbon monoxide, metals, and cancer-causing chemicals

2. The tobacco and smoke contain several toxic agents known to cause lung, bladder, and oral cancers.

3. Tobacco juices irritate the mouth and can cause oral cancers

4. It can clog the arteries and result in heart attacks

5. Babies born to women who smoked shisha during pregnancy are known to have a lower birth weight and increased risks of respiratory diseases in their childhood.

6. The other diseases that can result from shisha smoking are Stomach cancer, Cancer of the esophagus (food pipe), Reduced lung function and Decreased fertility

7. Secondhand smoke inhaled by the bystanders is equally harmful.

8. Some sweetened and flavored nontobacco products are also used for smoking. However although they do not contain tobacco but the smoke from both preparations contain carbon monoxide and other toxic agents known to increase the risks for smoking-related cancers, heart disease, and lung disease.

9. Shisha is commonly used in groups, with the same mouthpiece passed from person to person, which may not even be cleaned properly. Thus risking the transmission of infectious diseases like tuberculosis, aspergillus (a fungus that can cause serious lung infections), several viral infections, helicobacter infection (which can cause stomach ulcers) and even meningitis.