What Are the Dangers of Hookah?

A hookah is a water pipe used to inhale tobacco. A growing trend in today's youth culture, they are considered to be a healthier alternative to cigarette smoking. The truth is they are just as dangerous, if not more.

What is a Hookah?

• Hookahs have been used for centuries in the Middle East and South Asia. Special tobacco is heated up in a bowl and the smoke from it passes through a chamber filled with water. The user inhales the smoke through a mouthpiece connected to a rubber hose.

Hookah Bars

• Hookah bars have popped up all over the United States in recent years as a trendy place for teens and young adults to hang out and socialize.

No Less Dangerous

• According to a report by the American Lung Association, hookah use has many of the same risks as cigarette smoking, like carbon monoxide, tar and nicotine, which can lead to cancer and emphysema. There is a misconception that the water in the hookah filters out most of these harmful elements.

Spreading Disease

• Many users speed the process of passing the hookah by sharing mouthpieces. This increases the chance for the spread of diseases like herpes, mononucleosis and tuberculosis.

A Gateway to Cigarettes

• Hookah use increases the chances of a user taking up cigarette smoking. Teens are eight times more likely to try cigarettes if they have used a hookah before.