Dangers of Smoking Shisha

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  Shisha is a fruit-scented herbal tobacco smoked from a water pipe (the water pipe may also be referred to as a shisha). The tobacco is burnt by coal, travels through a water vessel and is inhaled through a hose. Though often thought of as less harmful than smoking cigarettes, a study by the Department of Health and the Tobacco Control Collaborating Centre (as reported in an online BBC News report) shows that smoking shisha is as dangerous or more dangerous than cigarettes.
  
  

Carbon Monoxide

• A single session of smoking shisha produces carbon monoxide levels four to five times higher than those produced from smoking a cigarette. When the breath of heavy tobacco smokers was measured, carbon monoxide levels of 30 to 40 ppm (parts per million) were found. These levels indicate that approximately 5 to 7 percent of blood was not functioning properly. The breath of shisha smokers measured 40 to 70 ppm of carbon monoxide, resulting in 8 to 12 percent of blood being affected. BBC News notes that the normal carbon monoxide level is 3 ppm. Elevated carbon monoxide levels can result in brain damage and unconsciousness.
  
  

Infectious Disease

• Though not a risk directly associated with shisha, the spread of infectious disease is associated with shared water pipes. Saliva transferred from an infected person to a non-infected person via an uncleaned hose can spread dangerous diseases, such as tuberculosis, herpes and the H1N1 virus, as well as more common illnesses such as the cold and flu viruses.
  
  

Other Risks

• Much like cigarette smoke, shisha smoke can lead to heath problems such as lung disease, emphysema, asthma, low birth weight and cancer of the mouth, esophagus and lungs. According to Professor Javaid Khan of Aga Khan University in Pakistan, "regular shisha users have lung functions approximately 25 percent lower than those who do not use this." Professor Khan also notes that children are especially susceptible to harmful effects such as lung infections, asthma and sudden infant death syndrome.