Harmful Impact of Smoking Underlined by Health Professionals
In a recent statement on Russia-1, TV host and doctor Alexander Myasnikov highlighted the harmful effects of hookah smoking. Myasnikov, who made the statement as reported by Almaty.tv and gazeta.ru, compared the harmful substances inhaled during a 45-minute hookah session to those inhaled from 1.5 packs of cigarettes.
Myasnikov emphasized that smoking a hookah can lead to cancer in the lungs and oral cavity, as well as other serious health issues. Each puff during hookah smoking can cause a micro-burn in the lungs, although the duration of this micro-burn was not specified in his statements.
The comparison between hookah smoking and cigarettes in terms of harmful substances was made by Myasnikov, who also stated that inhaling micro-particles of combustion during hookah smoking can provoke lung cancer. Myasnikov did not provide evidence or scientific research to support his claims about the cancer risk of hookah smoking.
Hookah smoke contains nicotine, carcinogens, carbon monoxide, tar, heavy metals, and toxic chemicals from both tobacco and burning charcoal. These substances contribute to respiratory diseases, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and oral health problems.
| Health Aspect | Hookah Smoking | Cigarette Smoking | |-----------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------| | Nicotine & Addiction | Contains nicotine; prolonged sessions can lead to dependence; misconception that water filtration reduces addiction risk is false[2][4] | Contains nicotine; quickly addictive through numerous cigarettes daily[2][4] | | Chemical Exposure | Higher exposure in one session to carbon monoxide, tar, carcinogens, heavy metals from charcoal adds extra toxins[1][2] | Contains thousands of harmful chemicals including 70+ carcinogens[2][4] | | Respiratory Effects | Linked to reduced lung function, respiratory infections, bronchitis, lung cancer risk[1][2][3] | Major cause of chronic bronchitis, emphysema, lung cancer[2][4] | | Cardiovascular Risks | Elevated risk of hypertension, atherosclerosis, heart attacks; toxins exacerbate damage[1][2][3] | Well-documented increased risk of cardiovascular disease[2][3][4] | | Oral Health | Can cause bad breath, gum disease, mouth sores, oral cancer from hot smoke[1][5] | Also linked to gum disease, oral cancer, mouth problems due to tobacco chemicals[1][5] | | Secondhand Smoke | Secondhand smoke plus charcoal emissions pose significant harm to bystanders[1][2] | Significant risk to non-smokers and children through secondhand smoke[2] | | Exposure Intensity | Longer smoking sessions with deeper inhalation increase total toxic intake per session[1][2] | Typically shorter sessions but potentially more frequent[2] |
In summary, hookah smoking is not a safer alternative to cigarettes; it exposes users to equal or greater levels of harmful substances and health risks. The prolonged duration of hookah sessions leads to inhaling more smoke and toxic chemicals in a single session than smoking one cigarette. Furthermore, sharing hookah mouthpieces can increase infectious disease transmission risks.
Both forms of tobacco use carry serious health consequences, and the safest option is to avoid or quit all tobacco products.
[1] National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2019). Hookah smoking. Retrieved from https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/tobacco/smokeless-tobacco/hookah-smoking
[2] American Lung Association. (2021). Hookah smoking. Retrieved from https://www.lung.org/quit-smoking/i-want-to-quit/resources/types-of-tobacco/hookah
[3] Mayo Clinic. (2021). Hookah smoking. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/quit-smoking/in-depth/hookah/art-20047054
[4] World Health Organization. (2018). Tobacco product regulation. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/tobacco/control/regulation/en/
[5] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Oral health. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/basics/index.htm
Science reveals that both hookah and cigarette smoking pose significant medical-conditions risks to health-and-wellness. hookah smoking exposes users to higher levels of harmful substances like carbon monoxide, tar, carcinogens, and heavy metals in a single session due to its prolonged duration, thereby increasing the risk of various diseases such as respiratory infections, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and oral health problems.
In summary, scientific studies demonstrate that hookah smoking is no safer than cigarettes, and both practices can lead to serious medical-conditions, including cancer and other health issues. Therefore, for the sake of health-and-wellness, it is advisable to avoid or quit all tobacco products.
