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Smoking a hookah is as bad as smoking a cigarette, because although it is thought that the smoke from the hookah is less harmful to the body because it is filtered as it passes through water, this is not entirely true, since in this process only a small part of the harmful substances in the smoke , like carbon monoxide and nicotine, stay in the water.
The hookah is also known as the Arab pipe, hookah and Hookah, and is generally used in meetings of friends, in which consumption can last more than an hour. Its popularization among the young public was due to the possibility of using flavored tobacco with different flavors and colors, which increases the audience of users, including people who did not like the natural taste of tobacco, which can be bitter, or that they were not comfortable with the smell.
Main risks of smoking hookah
One of the main risks of hookah is related to the burning of tobacco using charcoal, due to the products that are released in this burning, such as carbon monoxide and heavy metals, which considerably increase the possibility of the appearance of diseases. In addition, the exposure time tends to be long, which increases the chances of absorbing a greater amount of toxins, increasing the risk of diseases such as:
- Cancer of the lung, esophagus, larynx, mouth, intestine, bladder or kidneys;
- Blood-related diseases, such as thrombosis or high blood pressure;
- Sexual impotence;
- Heart diseases;
- Increased risk of being contaminated by STIs, such as herpes and oral candidiasis, due to the sharing of the hookah mouthwash.
Another possible risk of hookah is the so-called passive smokers who breathe the smoke unintentionally. During use, the smoke from the hookah can stay in the environment for many hours, due to the large volume that is emitted, presenting risks to other people who are in the environment such as pregnant women, babies and children. It is also important that people with lung and respiratory diseases stay away from these environments. See which remedies can help you quit smoking.
Even if on the market they already have the possibility of using a resistance that heats the coal, thus avoiding igniting it with fire directly, the damage is the same. Since, the remains of burning coal do not depend on how it will be lit.
Hookah is addictive like cigarettes?
The hookah is addictive like a cigarette, because although the tobacco used seems harmless, due to the smell and attractive flavors, it contains nicotine in its composition, an addictive substance for the body. In this way, the risk of hookah smokers becoming dependent is similar to the risk of cigarette dependence.
Therefore, those who smoke hookahs consume the same substances as those who smoke cigarettes, only in greater quantities, since the minutes of use are longer than that of a cigarette.
Created by: Tua Saúde Editorial Team
Bibliography>
- AHA. Water Pipe (Hookah) Smoking and Cardiovascular Disease Risk: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. 2019. Available at:. Accessed on 22 Jul 2020
- CDC. Hookahs. Available in: . Accessed on 22 Jul 2020