Hookah Smoking Can Be More Dangerous Than Cigarette Smoking

2023 Author: Abraham Higgins | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-07-31 03:44

Hookah smoking can be more dangerous than cigarette smoking

One hookah session usually results in more carbon monoxide exposure than one cigarette. Hookah smoke contains other chemicals that are potentially harmful to the cardiovascular system - nicotine, volatile organic chemicals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, acrolein, lead, cadmium and arsenic.

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Hookah smoking affects heart rate and blood pressure, and long-term use is associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease, according to a new scientific report published in Circulation, the journal of the American Heart Association. The report reviewed over 100 studies on hookah smoking.

Although direct comparisons between hookah and cigarettes have some limitations, one hookah session (30 minutes or more) usually results in more exposure to carbon monoxide (carbon monoxide) than a single cigarette. Hookah smoke contains other chemicals that are potentially harmful to the cardiovascular system - nicotine, volatile organic chemicals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, acrolein, lead, cadmium and arsenic. The concentration of most of them in hookah is higher than in cigarette smoke.

“Many young people mistakenly believe that smoking waterpipe tobacco is less harmful than smoking cigarettes because tobacco is filtered with water, but there is no scientific evidence to support this claim,” said lead author of the report, Aruni Bhatnagar. professor of medicine at the University of Louisville, Kentucky.

He explained that hookah smoking increases the risk of diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease and myocardial infarction.

The prevalence of this method of smoking among young people is growing worldwide. According to the American Heart Association in 2016, 4.8% of high school seniors and 13.6% of young adults (18-24 years old; they made up 55% of hookah smokers nationwide) smoke shisha in the United States. According to a survey in seven countries in the Middle East, adolescent hookah smoking rates ranged from 9 to 15%, which is higher than cigarette smoking rates in some. A study of British teenagers found that hookah is more than twice as popular as smoking regular cigarettes.

Several factors contribute to the popularity of the hookah:

sweetened and flavored hookah tobacco,

• social networks promoting this method of tobacco use,
• misconceptions about addiction and adverse health effects.

Hookah tobacco is usually colorfully packaged and can be sold as candy and fruit flavors to appeal to young people. It often lacks health warnings, giving the appearance of safety. Flavors and sweeteners mask the harshness of the smoke, making smoking much easier. In addition, many people smoke hookah in lounges and cafes, which is perceived as a pastime, rather than forming a bad habit.

Currently, there is a persistent misconception among hookah users that this method of tobacco use is harmless. According to a 2009 study, 58% of hookah smokers find it less harmful than smoking cigarettes.

Many young people are more aware of the risks associated with smoking cigarettes and therefore avoid this particular way of using tobacco. But, nevertheless, hookah smoking often becomes "a catalyst for the transition to other tobacco products, namely cigarettes," said Aruni Bhatnagar.