Editor,
It is known as shisha in the Arabic world and hookah in the U.S. It is also called narghilä, turca, hubbly bubbly or simply water-pipe smoking. Whatever name one may call it, it's the same. This popular activity is an old pastime in Arabic and East Indian cultures. Now it has been rapidly surging in popularity, particularly among high school and college students and young professionals. Bars and hookah lounges are springing up all over. Who could resist taking a huff and puff from the hookah? There are flavors ranging from vanilla, coconut, rose, jasmine, honey, strawberry, watermelon, mint, cherry, orange, raspberry, apple, apricot, chocolate, licorice, coffee, grape, peach, cola, bubblegum, pineapple and just about every other concoction in between.
Sounds pretty benign, doesn't it? It isn't. Like many fads, it has been hyped with false claims in order to increase its popularity and profits. Tobacco is tobacco, no matter how you cut it, and tobacco smoke is hazardous.
It should be noted that one shouldn't be misled by the fruity flavors into thinking that shisha is a harmless vice. With it still comes all the tar and nicotine of an ordinary cigarette, with a special add-on coming along in the form of some mean hydrocarbons courtesy of the smoldering hot charcoal. In fact, a 45-minute session of smoking shisha from a hookah pipe is equivalent to huffing and puffing away at nearly a whole pack of cigarettes. Add the possibility that sessions could be extended because shisha smokers may be tricked by the fact that the hookah makes the smoke less irritating and they might find themselves in a predicament watching their health go up in smoke with each puff from the hookah.
Research has shown that one hour of smoking a hookah is equal to 100-200 times the volume of smoke of a single cigarette. This is according to a report available at the Bacchus Network's Web site, BacchusNetwork.org.
Contrary to popular belief, the water in the hookah has no ability to cleanse or purify the smoke of any of its harmful components. Tobacco smoke contains nicotine, a highly addictive substance that is not filtered out by the water. In addition to nicotine, you are pulling other dangerous substances through that hose. Tar is not water-soluble, so it comes on through the pipe. Tar causes cancer. Other carcinogens - cancer-causing agents - also make it through, such as heavy metals and carbon monoxide. In fact, because of the charcoal that is burned on top of the tobacco mixture, hookah smoke has a higher level of heavy metals and carbon monoxide than cigarette smoke. Hookah smokers risk cancer of the lung, lip, tongue and bladder.
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Tobacco smoke affects the cardiovascular system, increasing blood pressure, heart rate and the risk of heart attack and stroke. Smoke of any kind is also a lung irritant, which can trigger asthma and allergies. And, of course, there are all the secondhand-smoke issues to consider.
In addition to the tobacco, there are the smoked flavorings to consider. Unfortunately, nobody has yet studied the effects of inhaling burning dried fruit, but I would bet they aren't all good.
Finally, think about sharing the mouthpiece. It's like kissing everyone in the group. Hookah pipes can spread hepatitis C, herpes, flu, strep throat, a cold and even tuberculosis. And wiping it on your sleeve doesn't sterilize it.
I'm a big believer in social gatherings and relaxation time. But if you are concerned with the health of your lungs, think about gathering around a cup of tea or relaxing with exercise and a hot tub instead of a water pipe.
Reuben Estrada
UNM staff
