Effects of Hookahs

A smoking trend developing in America has people questioning the potential side effects of the hookah. The hookah, also known as a water pipe, narghile or hubble-bubble, originated in ancient Persia and is a device used to smoke specially made tobacco. Hookah tobacco is typically fruit flavored and heated by a hot coal placed on a special burner. The tobacco smoke is drawn into the water-filled body of the hookah and through a rubber hose connected to a mouthpiece. Hookah smoking is usually done in groups, with the same mouthpiece passed from person to person.

Health Effects

• Hookah smokers are at risk for developing the same kinds of cancers that affect cigarette smokers. The smoke from a water pipe contains carcinogens linked with lung, bladder and oral cancers. The charcoal used to heat the tobacco also contributes high levels of heavy metals and carbon monoxide to the hookah smoke.

Secondary Effects

• Along with the side effects of direct inhalation, hookah smokers are at risk of contracting tuberculosis, hepatitis, herpes and other contagious diseases from the use of a shared mouthpiece. Pregnant women are also at risk for delivering low-birth weight babies who run a high risk of respiratory disease. Secondhand smoke from a hookah is also harmful as it contains the same toxins inhaled by the smokers.

A Safer Alternative?

• A great deal of confusion is centered over whether smoking the hookah is a safe alternative to cigarette smoking. In short, the answer is "no." According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hookah smokers inhale between 100 and 200 times the volume of smoke in a single cigarette during a typical one-hour hookah smoking session. Because of the longer smoking time and the depth of inhalation, hookah smokers may absorb even higher concentrations of toxins and cancer causing substances than cigarette smokers. The hookah also delivers the addictive drug nicotine.