That question usually comes up to my mind each time I found some persons who doesn't smoke cigarette, or like being around people who do smoke but, yet enjoy taking shisha and being comfortable with it. In a conversation with a friend of mine concerning whether shisha is actually a smoke, I was explained to that shisha is quite different from cigar. He further said that its a way of taking juice though, in form of smoking. Perhaps, this explanation might be based on the fact that some shisha contain certain popular flavour such as apple, strawberry, mint etc. In another discussion with a friend about shisha, I was told that there is a close relationship between shisha and the conventional cigarettes. However, he didn't clarify their differences. Different persons today have different perspective of what shisha really is. This may be due to different misleading advertisements given about shisha. Many of our young and advanced ones today, which include male and females, had been touted to take shisha as nothing more than a harmless social activity. And this notion has led to full indulgence in the act with all clean conscience. According to a study by the CDC in 2012, it was revealed that those who smoke shisha considered it less harmful than smoking. The question is, is shisha really a smoke? The subsequent questions and the answers that follows will enable us to unravel all the hidden truth, and also clear the general misconception among shisha smokers concerning shisha smoking. The questions: what are the actual contents/constituent of shisha? Is there any relationship between shisha smoking and the normal cigarette? What are some of the myth regarding shisha smoking? Is there any negative health effect of shisha? The answers to the above question will enable us have a true knowledge about what shisha really is.
Shisha smoking is simply a way of smoking tobacco through a bowl with a hose or tube joined on. Shisha smoking which is also called narghile, Hubble bubble, hookah and water pipe originated from middle east and certain areas of Asia. But have spread to different countries in the world, including Nigeria. Its mostly practiced as a social activity (majorly bars) among group of friends
Basic constituent of shisha
The major content just like cigarette is tobacco. At times, its mixed with fruit, certain flavor such as apple, mint, and strawberry. The pipe contains water that filters the smoke. Charcoal which burns the tobacco to produce the smoke is also stuffed in the bowl.
Normal cigarette and shisha smoking
Just like cigarette, shisha contain the same type of tobacco. Hence, shisha smokers can develope same health issues with cigar smokers. Though, its not smoked regularly compared to cigar, someone can become addicted as it contains nicotine, the compound in tobacco that promote addiction. Both produces smoke. However, smoke from shisha is more concentrated as its combined with the fume and toxins emanating from the coal and fuel (charcoal) used for lighting the pipe.
Common myth about shisha smoking
Many false claim has been made both by user and seller to promote and justify the uses of shisha. Some said, since my throat does not seem to be affected by the smoke, it must be less harmful. Since its smoked occasionally, it must be less addictive. Since the tobacco is burned on charcoal and filtered through water pipe, what is breathed in is just a flavored water vapour. The above claims are not completely true.
As I have said earlier, shisha smoking have same health effects with cigar. The common identified health issues associated with shisha are:
On average, shisha smokers seems to have a longer session of smoking and deep inhalation and consequently, absorbing a higher concentration of toxic smoke than cigar smokers. In fact, a study conducted by the WHO, revealed that an hour session of shisha smoking can be same as smoking 100 or more cigarette; just imagine that. However, the pipe in shisha contains water that filters toxic products, its not effective at removing the high level of toxic substances like carbon monoxides ( the same substance from generator exhaust which have higher affinity for haemoglobin—the oxygen carrier component of red blood cells—than oxygen leading to insufficient oxygen supply, and eventually death), heavy metals (e.g. lead, nickel and arsenic) and carcinogen which might lead to the development of cancer.
The toxins from shisha smoke puffed in during smoking can enter the blood stream and narrows the arteries. Thus, contributing to high blood pressure. The lining of the arteries can also get damaged from smoke itself leading to the accumulation of fatty deposits (anteroma). Anteroma also narrows the arteries which in turn might cause heart attack and high blood pressure.Infectious disease are those diseases that occurs as a result of infection and proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms, as well as viruses in the human body. Because of how shisha smoking is socially practiced, where a bar provide the shisha and group of people shares the mouthpiece which is mostly not hygienic, transmissible infectious diseases might occur. The probable infections are stomach ulcer caused by Helicobacter sp, herpes and hepatitis caused by viral infection, and also infecting oneself with aspergillus sp which affects the lungs.
The general wish of everyone I think is long and healthy life. Nevertheless, majorities are not concerned or doesn't know how to achieve what they wished (good health). One of the ways to maintain good health is to be health conscious. Be conscious of whatever you want to consume. You must know that our daily lifestyle tend to contribute to how long and healthy you would be as you run the race of life. I always say, "WE ARE WHAT WE EAT"
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