Hookah smoking is becoming popular in the United States with new hookah cafes and bars mushrooming everywhere. Many people believe that hookah smoking is more safe than cigarettes. But, new research is beginning to reveal the true hazards of hookah smoking.
Growth of Hookah Smoking
Most hookah cafes are mushrooming near colleges. Therefore, college students are frequenting these joints to smoke the water pipe, as hookah is also called. This growing trend is alarming doctors and health experts. College students freely smoke hookah thinking it is harmless.
Myths of Hookah Smoking
It is claimed that the water in the hookah filters the harmful toxins and chemicals in tobacco. Besides, hookah smoking is believed to allow the smoker experience the original tobacco flavor. Many people also believe that hookah smoking is not addictive. These are some common reasons for its increasing popularity.
Facts of Hookah Smoking
Hookah smoking is in fact more harmful than cigarettes. This is because, hookah smokers inhale longer, thereby taking in more volume. Research reveals that a single hookah session of about an hour equals smoking around 100 cigarettes. The common belief that hookah filters chemical toxins to make tobacco safe is not true. The filtration is only minimal and enough nicotine is imbibed by the smoker to make him/her addicted.
Warning
New research reveals that hookah smoking releases more carbon monoxide compared to cigarette smoking. This can lead to higher risk of cardiac disease. Other dangers of hookah smoking include certain types of cancers, heart disease, bronchitis and emphysema. Besides, charcoal in the hookah creates more carbon monoxide. Hookah smoking also emits new harmful chemicals.
Oral Dangers
Hookah smoking can cause a lot of oral problems. Your teeth can become stained as hookah smoke contains tar. Another common side effect is bad breath. But, the most important oral impact of hookahs is oral cancer.
Infectious Diseases
Individual mouthpieces are available at hookah bars. But, many people use a single mouthpiece between them. This habit increases the risk of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and herpes.
