Smoking hookah may look glamorous to some, but it’s every bit as addictive as cigarette smoking — and may be more harmful.
Hookahs are waterpipes that are used to smoke specially made tobacco mixtures that come in a wide variety of flavors. They typically operate by sending charcoal-heated air through a tobacco combination and then into a water-filled chamber.
A user then inhales the smoke through a tube and mouthpiece. Hookah users frequently believe it is less dangerous than smoking cigarettes, however studies reveal that the smoke contains many of the same poisonous components as cigarette smoke, such as nicotine, tar, and heavy metals. They are not a safe alternative to cigarette smoking.
Young people may be attracted to the social nature of hookah smoking and to flavors that range from cappuccino to watermelon. However, hookah smokers may share more than just tobacco.
“What teens may not realize is that the risks that come with sharing a hookah range from mono, colds, strep and now potentially COVID-19,” says Dr. Rome from the Cleveland Clinic. “These risks are amplified by the close proximity of those sharing the hookah and by coughing in each other’s faces with use.”
Dangers
According to the American Lung Association nicotine is an addictive substance that can have long-term negative effects on adolescent brain development and has been linked to a number of negative health outcomes for the developing fetus. Hookah smoking is associated with many of the same negative health effects as cigarette smoking, including lung, bladder, and oral cancers, as well as heart disease.
Impaired pulmonary function, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, esophageal cancer, and gastric cancer are all long-term effects. Short-term hookah use is associated with acute health effects such as increased heart rate and blood pressure, decreased pulmonary function, and carbon monoxide intoxication.
Also see: Foods and drinks that can ruin your teeth
