Dangers of Smoking Hookah

Overview

Hookah is a flavored tobacco that is smoked through a hookah pipe (water pipe). The flavored tobacco is heated by charcoal or wood fuel. The smoke from the tobacco is sent through a water chamber in the pipe into a tube with a mouthpiece, which the smoker inhales through. It is a myth that smoking tobacco through a hookah pipe is safe. People wrongly think that the water captures the toxins so that the smoker is not exposed to them. The water does cool the smoke, which makes it feel less harsh. But cooler smoke does not equal safer smoke. The dangers from smoking hookah could possibly be greater than the dangers associated with cigarettes. In fact, hookah smokers are exposed to more smoke than cigarette smokers are. According to the World Health Organization, in one smoking session, the average hookah smoker inhales the equivalent of roughly 100 cigarettes.

Addiction

The water in a hookah pipe absorbs some of the nicotine from the tobacco, but not all of it. Smokers still absorb enough nicotine from smoking hookah to become addicted. Additionally, since hookah smokers inhale tobacco smoke for longer periods of time per smoking session than cigarette smokers do, they may be getting as much nicotine, if not more, than a cigarette smoker does in each smoking session.

Disease

Hookah tobacco contains all the carcinogens and chemicals that cigarette tobacco does, meaning hookah smokers have the same risks of developing cancer, respiratory disease and heart disease. In fact, the long hookah smoking sessions expose hookah smokers to higher amounts of carcinogens and chemicals than smokers receive from a cigarette. Because hookah smokers are exposed to higher amounts of carcinogens and chemicals, their risks of developing cancer, respiratory disease and heart disease may even be higher than those of cigarette smokers.

Toxins

The fuel used in a hookah pipe releases carbon monoxide, toxins, carcinogens and metals. All these chemicals increase a hookah smoker's risk of developing cancer, respiratory disease and heart disease.

Secondhand Smoke

People who inhale secondhand smoke from a hookah pipe are exposed to the chemicals from the tobacco and the toxins from the fuel. Secondhand hookah smoke can cause cancer and respiratory disease in people exposed to it.

Infectious Disease

Smokers who share the mouthpiece on a hookah pipe risk catching a contagious disease from one another. The contagious disease can be a simple cold or flu virus or it can be something more serious, such as herpes.