Hookah is popular everywhere today. Including in Russia. They have become part of the “menu” of most bars and clubs. Almost all smokers are familiar with hookah. Is hookah harmful? What do scientists, doctors and ordinary people say about this? Opinions are very mixed, often in many ways diverging dramatically. Let us try to consider some that give the impression of the most convincing and supported by facts.
The opinion of the inhabitants, though American
In America, which loudly declares its intention to turn into a non-smoking country, the circles of the intelligentsia are most supportive of smoking a hookah. Mostly they are college students. They are quite consciously asked the question "Is hookah harmful?" answer as follows. "Hookah smoking is not as harmful as cigarette smoking." In it, the smoke, before entering the lungs, passes through the flask and cools. In addition, they argue that smoking hookah is more fun than ordinary cigarettes and even a pipe.
Scientific background
American scientists (Virginia) have their own point of view on the extent to which hookah can affect the body. As a result of research, they came to the conclusion that, in fact, the effect of the hookah is different from the idea that ordinary people make about it. Is hookah harmful to health? According to scientists, no less than cigarettes. It also contributes to the assimilation of toxins by the body: carbon monoxide, tar, nicotine. Moreover, smoking a hookah is accompanied by large and long puffs, which provides the smoker with an amount of smoke per “session” from 20 to 100 times more than from a cigarette. However, a curious conclusion ...
On the other hand, practical observation of hookah smokers has not proved that the fascination with this exotic fun leads to serious diseases. The dependence on nicotine in a group of “experimental” appeared very quickly. Of the people who claimed to have tried smoking just a couple of times at the start of the study, 43% became regular smokers in less than a year. For comparison, 20% of newcomers a month later announced the acquisition of nicotine addiction. Is smoking a hookah harmful? Definitely.
Chemical research results
Laboratory studies of the hookah indicate that filtering the smoke in it really gives a result: harmful substances are reduced to some extent (but 80-95% of nicotine, phenols, particulate matter, polycyclicene hydrocarbons, benzopyrene, etc. nevertheless reach the lungs). The filter slightly reduces the carcinogenic potential of smoke, clearing it of acrolein and acetaldehyde, harmful to the alveoli. Since the hookah does not burn, it does not emit harmful carcinogens. These facts are kind of encouraging.
Immediately we present the results of another study conducted to determine if the hookah is harmful. K. Makaron, who studies only hookah smokers, and not mixed ones, as in most experiments, came to the conclusion that his smoking increases the content of cotonin in the blood. She also admits that the filter neutralizes some toxic smoke substances, but claims that many of them remain unchanged. Therefore, she states that in general, water has a negligible effect on the neutralization of smoke, that its harm is absolutely no less, even from cigarettes.
For objectivity, it is worth saying that most hookah smokers are random smokers. They usually do not have tobacco or nicotine addiction. For them, the main thing is aroma, pleasant and unusual taste, relaxing atmosphere. For many, this exotic is generally a tribute to fashion. Such hookah lovers actually do not inhale smoke. They have enough taste and olfactory sensations. Such smokers are not addicted. Unless in the so-called public: it's cool and fashionable. Is hookah harmful to them? Hardly ever. Just do not get carried away more than this degree.
In general: smoking is bad for your health, be it cigarettes, pipe, cigars or hookah.