Hubbly smoking (also known as hookah or shisha smoking) carries several health risks, many of which are comparable to or even greater than those of cigarette smoking[1].
- Lung and Respiratory Issues: Hubbly use is associated with complications such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchitis, and other lung diseases[1]. Short-term exposures can cause acute symptoms such as chest pain and shortness of breath; rare but serious complications like spontaneous pneumomediastinum (air in the chest cavity) have been reported[3].
- Heart Disease: There is an increased risk of heart conditions, such as heart disease and heart attacks, due to the negative effects of carbon monoxide and other toxins contained in the smoke[1].
- Cancer: Like cigarettes, hubbly smoke contains carcinogens, increasing the risk of lung, throat, mouth, bladder, stomach, and esophageal cancer[1][7].
- Addiction: Hookah tobacco contains nicotine, a highly addictive substance that makes it hard to quit; even flavored (non-tobacco) preparations can pose significant addiction risks[4][6].
- Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: High levels of carbon monoxide in hubbly smoke can cause headaches, nausea, fainting, and, in severe cases, “hookah sickness”[6]. Elevated carboxyhemoglobin levels can lead to tissue hypoxia and increased perioperative risk during surgery[5].
- Infectious Diseases: Sharing the mouthpiece can facilitate the transmission of communicable diseases, such as oral herpes, tuberculosis, hepatitis, flu, and COVID-19[1][5][6][7].
- Premature Skin Aging: Smoking hubbly bubbly can decrease the amount of oxygen reaching the skin, leading to prematurely aged skin[1].
- Other Health Effects: Hubby smoking can damage the respiratory lining, impair mucociliary clearance, increase airway reactivity (potentially causing bronchospasm or laryngospasm), and decrease the ability to exercise[5][6].
- Gateway Effect: There is evidence suggesting that hubbly use may act as a gateway to more illicit drug use[8].
- Secondhand Smoke: Hookah smoke also poses dangers to nearby non-smokers through secondhand exposure to toxic chemicals[7].
References
- [1] What are the health risks of hookah smoking? – Medical News Today
- [3] Spontaneous Pneumomediastinum Secondary to Hookah Smoking
- [4] “Hubbly Bubbly/ Hookah tobacco and smoke contains toxins that …
- [5] Flavoured hookah and perioperative risk: Evil goes global – PMC
- [6] Hookah – Wikipedia
- [7] Hookah smoking: Is it safer than cigarette smoking? – Mayo Clinic
- [8] Hubbly Bubbly: The Use of a Waterpipe as a Gateway to Other …
Leave a Reply