The hookah, also known as hookah, argilla, naguilé, shisa and hookah, is a water pipe which allows smoking tobacco, generally flavored and with different aromas. Its origin is disputed between Indians and Persians. The tobacco used in this device is not similar to that used in the production of cigarettes and cigars.
In the hookah, washed tobacco leaves are used that are seasoned with other products such as honey, rose water and even sugar cane. In the Middle Eastern countries it is used by all kinds of people (since it corresponds to tradition), regardless of their social status, gender and age.
Over time, it has become popular in the West, especially in the adolescent and adult population. However, some health specialists have indicated that smoking hookah or hookah can be potentially dangerous, due to the side effects it produces on the respiratory and cardiac systems.
Hookah Parts
The parts that make up this device are:
-A plate of clay or some resistant material where the tobacco is placed, and then covered with the burning coal.
-The valve that works to purify the polluted air that is inside the pipe.
-The container or base, which contains the liquid that allows the "purification" of tobacco smoke. Usually it is water, but sometimes it is served with alcoholic beverages and even milk.
-The duct where tobacco smoke is inhaled.
characteristics
Some features that can be highlighted about this water pipe are the following:
-According to historical records, the idea for this device arose in India. However, it is believed that it was rather invented in Persia and later introduced to the rest of the adjacent regions.
-Modifications were made to the mechanism, by introducing a container with water with the intention of "purifying" the inhaled smoke.
-During the beginning of its use, it was associated with the aristocracy and the bourgeoisie.
-They are made of different materials such as clay, glass, metal and plastic, and are usually ornamented.
-In Turkey and some parts of the Middle East it is used in family settings where it is shared with all members (including children and the elderly).
-In the United States and some European countries there are specialized cafes where you can smoke without the usual restrictions imposed on cigarettes.
-The pipe has a container with water that allows the cooling of the smoke, at the moment the tobacco is burned in a plate that is in the upper part. The smoke is inhaled from a tube connected to the structure.
-Some experienced smokers are dedicated to exploring and making combinations of flavors and liquids such as wine, vodka and milk, which also affect the density of the smoke and the feeling it leaves after smoking. That is why the experience becomes pleasant and pleasant.
Is it bad?
Due to the popularity of hookah among young people and adults, the World Health Organization (WHO) - as well as other institutions - has carried out some studies that seem to indicate that it is no less harmful than cigarettes. Based on these results, the hookah can be just as dangerous, or even more.
Some conclusions from the studies are as follows:
-Apparently, hookah smokers have recorded greater absorption of higher toxic components such as carbon monoxide, which goes directly to the lungs.
-Water vapor, which was thought to help “purify” smoke, actually increases toxicity levels between puffs.
-Due to the density of the smoke, it is believed that passive smokers consume more toxic smoke than those who are exposed to cigarettes and cigars.
-Although the tobacco leaves used are clean and flavored with other products such as honey and lavender, it is believed that it contains more nicotine than conventional cigarettes.
-The act of smoking hookah in a social environment is equivalent to consuming an average of 100 cigarettes per session. These sessions can last for hours.
Although studies are still being carried out in this regard, health professionals urge public and private organizations to make the pertinent regulations related to its consumption.
Components
A series of components have been found that compromise the reliability of the hookah, thanks to the derivatives of the carbon that is used during the process:
-Carbon monoxide, a product of burned carbon, which comes into direct contact with the lungs.
-Alquitran, with a higher concentration than in conventional cigarettes.
-The presence of other heavy metals has also been found, as well as chemical substances found in tobacco leaves and in the different components that are added when flavoring and aromatizing hookahs.
Consequences for health
Hookah use is believed to increase the risk of mouth cancer, due to the juices included in flavored tobacco. The immediate effect of this is irritation to that part of the body.
It is also associated with lung cancer, heart disease, tobacco dependence, and exposure to infectious diseases due to the lack of cleanliness of the mouthpieces used.
Along the same lines, other related effects can be mentioned:
-According to the results of studies, it is believed that hookah smoking has also increased the consumption of cigarettes, alcohol and other drugs.
-By smoking hookah, pregnant women expose the fetus to developmental deficiencies during the gestation process.
-It is believed that smoking constantly can affect fertility.
-Immediately, it causes dizziness and dehydration, especially in people who have not smoked in the past.
-Among the different flavors used to season tobacco, some are not suitable for all consumers, so it is possible to find a series of different effects: from allergies and stomach pain to nausea and cough.
-The studies on hookah have not been as extensive as in the case of cigarettes, but the need to expose the effects and risks that exist in smoking with these water pipes has been exposed.
References
- Is it healthier to smoke hookah? (sf). In Very Interesting. Retrieved: May 21, 2018. In Muy Interesante from muyinteresante.es.
- Is hookah smoking healthier than conventional cigarettes? (2017). In Ok Diary. Retrieved: May 21, 2018. In Ok Diario de okdiario.com.
- Is hookah smoking safer than cigarettes? (sf). At Mayo Clinic. Retrieved: May 21, 2018. At Mayo Clinic at mayoclinic.org.
- Is smoking hookah really safe? (2013). In BBC Mundo. Retrieved: May 21, 2018. On BBC Mundo at bbc.com.
- Doctor Castro: Is the narguilla as harmless as it seems? (2014). In week. Retrieved: May 21, 2018. In Semana de semana.com.
- The 'hookah', a new adolescent pastime. (2010). In ElMundo.es. Retrieved: May 21, 2018. In ElMundo.es of elmundo.es.
- Hookah. (sf). On Wikipedia. Retrieved: May 21, 2018. In Wikipedia at es.wikipedia.org.
- Immediate reactions to smoking a hookah. (2017). In Very Fitness. Retrieved: May 21, 2018. In Muy Fitness de muyfitness.com.