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What Are the Dangers of Hookah Smoking?

A hookah is a water pipe, usually made of glass on the bottom, that has one or more stems. The Mayo Clinic says that while many believe Hookah smoke is less harmful than cigarette smoke, the truth is that an hour spent at the Hookah can mean inhaling as much smoke as you would if you smoked 100 to 200 cigarettes.

  1. Dependence

    • Hookah has the potential to cause the same dependence as other tobacco products, such as cigarettes and cigars--although, according to the Center for Substance Abuse Research, this potential may be slightly lessened by the social nature of Hookah use. Hookah is usually shared with friends and smoked at a party or Hookah cafe, allowing Hookah users long stretches of time between uses. If a Hookah user starts to make lifestyle changes to accommodate Hookah smoking, that may be a sign of dependence.

    Cancer

    • Carcinogens that are produced by burning tobacco can cause cancer. The tobacco in a Hookah is heated rather than burned, like the tobacco in a cigarette. The carcinogenic quality of Hookah smoke depends on how high the temperature of the tobacco gets. So, while Hookah smoke may not be as carcinogenic as cigarette smoke, it still produces carcinogens, and therefore is still capable of causing cancer.

    Oral Dangers

    • Smoking tobacco from a Hookah can result in a wide variety of oral problems. A Hookah smoker's teeth may become stained from the tar he inhales in the smoke. Bad breath is also a side effect of Hookah smoking, as it is with other forms of tobacco smoking. But by far, one of the most serious oral side effects of Hookah smoking is oral cancer.

    Infectious Diseases

    • When a Hookah smoker goes to a Hookah bar, he's able to get his own disposable mouthpiece to be used with the Hookah so that germs aren't shared. However, that doesn't mean these disposable mouthpieces are always used. According to a report by Lindsay Lyon at U.S. News and World Report, Samira Asma, an epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, says some share a single mouthpiece. This puts them at risk for infectious diseases including herpes and tuberculosis.

    Emphysema and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

    • Hookah smoke contains carbon monoxide and other toxic chemicals--as cigarettes do--putting a Hookah smoker at risk for emphysema. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can also be caused by Hookah smoke, as well as shortness of breath, damaged lungs, wheezing and a chronic cough.

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