The Impact of Toxins and Diseases on the Human Body
The use of hookah has a significant detrimental effect on human health. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a hookah smoker can inhale approximately 90,000 milliliters of smoke during a single smoking session. The level of toxin exposure from a hookah session largely depends on the depth of each inhalation. In contrast, a single cigarette leads to the inhalation of around 600 milliliters of smoke. Hookah contains tobacco and various components similar to cigarettes, including nicotine, tar, carbon monoxide, and heavy metals such as arsenic and lead.
Cardiovascular Harm from Hookah
Smocking hookah can inflict significant damage on cardiovascular health. Researchers at the University of California, led by Dr. Mari Rizk, an assistant professor, conducted a study examining the effects of just one 30-minute hookah session on heart rate, blood pressure, and arterial stiffness. The findings of the study, published in the American Journal of Cardiology, are summarized as follows:
- Increased stiffness of the arteries.
- Loss of arterial elasticity, which is a reliable indicator of stroke risk.
- A rise in heart rate among participants, averaging an increase of 16 beats per minute.
- An elevation in blood pressure levels.
Additional Dangers of Hookah
The consequences of hookah smoking extend beyond cardiovascular health and significantly affect overall body health. Notable risks associated with hookah use include:
- The charcoal used to heat the tobacco increases cancer risk due to the production of high levels of carbon monoxide, heavy metals, and carcinogenic chemicals.
- Ingredients in tobacco and maassel (flavored tobacco) can irritate the mouth and increase the likelihood of oral cancers.
- Sharing a hookah facilitates the transmission of various infections among smokers.
- Children born to hookah smokers are at a higher risk of developing respiratory diseases.
- The smoke inhaled from hookah is associated with an increased risk of several diseases, including esophageal cancer, stomach cancer, lung issues, and reduced fertility.
Video on the Dangers of Maassel
Some claim that the harm caused by hookah might rival that of cigars. Is the reason for this related to maassel?