is shisha bad for you?
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Is Shisha Bad for You?
Yes: the water does not filter out the harm. Shisha smoke contains tar, carbon monoxide and toxins, and a long session can exceed a cigarette.
Shisha, smoked through a waterpipe, is often assumed to be a milder, safer way to use tobacco, but the evidence says otherwise. Shisha is harmful, and the common belief that the water filters out the harm is a myth. A single session can expose you to a large volume of smoke and harmful substances. This guide explains the risks, alongside our guide on hookah versus shisha.
Quick answer
Yes, shisha is bad for you. The idea that the water filters out the harm is a myth. Shisha smoke contains tar, carbon monoxide and many toxic chemicals, and because a session can last a long time, you may inhale a large volume of smoke, often far more than from a single cigarette. The burning charcoal adds carbon monoxide too.
The water does not make it safe
The most common myth about shisha is that passing the smoke through water filters out the harmful substances. It does not. The smoke still contains tar, carbon monoxide and many of the same toxic and cancer causing chemicals found in cigarette smoke. So shisha is not a safe or harmless way to use tobacco, despite its gentler reputation.
Why shisha is harmful
| Factor | Detail |
|---|---|
| Water filtering | A myth; it does not remove the harm |
| Smoke contents | Tar, carbon monoxide, toxic chemicals |
| Session length | Often long, so a large volume of smoke |
| Charcoal | Burning charcoal adds carbon monoxide |
| Compared with a cigarette | A session can far exceed one cigarette |
How much you actually inhale
Because a shisha session can last a long time, often shared over many puffs, the total amount of smoke inhaled can be far greater than from a single cigarette. On top of the tobacco smoke, the charcoal used to heat the shisha produces carbon monoxide, adding to the harm. So a relaxed, social session can expose you to a surprisingly large dose of harmful substances.
Shisha is bad for you. The water does not filter out the harm, the smoke contains tar, carbon monoxide and toxins, and a long session can mean far more smoke than one cigarette.
Myths and facts
| Myth | The reality |
|---|---|
| The water filters out the harm | No, that is a myth; the smoke still contains tar, carbon monoxide and toxins. |
| Shisha is harmless because it is fruity and smooth | The flavour does not change the harmful smoke you inhale. |
| A session is milder than a cigarette | A long session can mean far more smoke than a single cigarette. |
| Only the tobacco matters | The burning charcoal also adds carbon monoxide. |
Frequently asked questions
Is shisha bad for you?
Yes, shisha is harmful. The smoke contains tar, carbon monoxide and toxic chemicals, and a long session can mean far more smoke than a cigarette.
Does the water filter out the harm?
No, that is a myth; the water does not remove the harmful substances in the smoke.
Is it safer than smoking cigarettes?
No, a session can expose you to a large volume of smoke and harmful chemicals, often more than a single cigarette.
Does the charcoal add to the harm?
Yes, the burning charcoal produces carbon monoxide on top of the tobacco smoke.
Is flavoured shisha less harmful?
No, the flavour does not change the harmful smoke you inhale.
The bottom line
Yes, shisha is bad for you, and the popular belief that the water filters out the harm is a myth. The smoke still contains tar, carbon monoxide and many toxic, cancer causing chemicals, and because a session can last a long time, you may inhale a large volume of smoke, often far more than from a single cigarette, with the burning charcoal adding carbon monoxide on top. Shisha is certainly not a safe or milder alternative to other forms of smoking.
More help and related reading
If this guide raised other questions, the Help and Guidance library has plain English answers to many more. The closely related pages below are worth a look, and you can always return to the main hub to browse every topic we cover. If you want to cut down or stop using nicotine, free, tailored support is available.
- Hookah vs shisha
- Is heated tobacco safer than smoking?
- Is shisha haram?
- Browse the full Help and Guidance library
Key things to remember
- Yes, shisha is harmful
- The water does not filter out the harm
- Smoke contains tar, carbon monoxide and toxins
- A long session can exceed a cigarette
- The charcoal adds carbon monoxide
Why the social setting hides the risk
Part of what makes shishas harm easy to overlook is the relaxed, social setting. Sessions are often long and shared, the smoke is cool and flavoured, and it feels gentler than a cigarette, which can give a false sense of safety. But the smoothness and flavour do nothing to remove the harmful substances, they simply make a large dose of smoke easier to inhale.
Over a long, sociable session, that can add up to far more smoke than a single cigarette, plus carbon monoxide from the charcoal. So the very things that make shisha feel mild, its smoothness and social nature, can actually lead to a bigger exposure.
The hidden risk
| Feature | Effect |
|---|---|
| Smooth, cool smoke | Easier to inhale a lot |
| Flavour | Masks the harshness, not the harm |
| Long sessions | More total smoke |
| Shared, social | Feels casual, lowers guard |
| Charcoal | Adds carbon monoxide |
A few more questions
Is occasional shisha safe?
No amount of smoking is safe; even occasional sessions expose you to tar, carbon monoxide and toxic chemicals.
Do and don’t
Do
- Recognise shisha is harmful, not mild
- Know the water does not filter out the harm
- Be aware a session can exceed a cigarette
- Consider stopping, with free support available
Try not to
- Believe the water makes it safe
- Assume flavour means less harm
- Treat a long session as harmless
- Think it is a safe alternative to cigarettes
Shisha compared with other options
Set against other ways people use tobacco and nicotine, shisha sits firmly at the harmful end, because it involves burning tobacco and inhaling smoke, often in large amounts over a session, plus carbon monoxide from the charcoal. It is not a safer alternative to cigarettes, and the social, occasional pattern does not make it harmless.
For anyone looking to move away from smoking in any form, the healthiest step is to stop using tobacco altogether, and for those who would otherwise smoke, less harmful nicotine options exist. A free stop smoking service can help you find the right path.
Where shisha sits
| Option | Position |
|---|---|
| Shisha | Harmful; burning tobacco and smoke |
| Cigarettes | Harmful |
| Heated tobacco | Likely less harmful than smoking, not safe |
| Vaping | Less harmful than smoking, not risk free |
| Nothing | Best for health |
More questions answered
Is hookah the same as shisha?
The terms are often used interchangeably; both refer to waterpipe tobacco smoking, which is harmful.
Does smoking shisha without tobacco avoid the harm?
Burning any material and inhaling smoke is harmful, and many herbal shisha products still produce tar and carbon monoxide.
A couple more questions
Is shisha worse than cigarettes?
A long session can mean far more smoke than a single cigarette, plus carbon monoxide from the charcoal, so it is certainly not safer.
Does fruit flavoured shisha contain tobacco?
Many flavoured shisha products contain tobacco; even tobacco free versions still produce harmful smoke when burned.
Can shisha cause serious illness?
Yes, like other smoking it is linked with serious health harms; no amount of smoking is safe.
One more question
Is a hookah bar safer than smoking outdoors?
No, the indoor, shared setting can mean more smoke and second hand exposure; the smoke is harmful wherever you are.
A quick word on safety and the law
Vaping and nicotine products are intended for adult smokers and existing vapers as a less harmful alternative to cigarettes. They contain nicotine unless stated otherwise, which is addictive, and they are not suitable for non smokers, pregnant women or anyone under 18. By law you must be 18 or over to buy vaping products in the UK, and we age verify every order. If you want to stop using nicotine altogether, your local stop smoking service offers free, tailored support.
UK public health bodies advise that vaping is substantially less harmful than smoking, but it is not risk free, and if you do not smoke the advice is not to start.
This guide is general information, not personal medical advice. If you have specific health concerns, please speak to a GP or pharmacist.
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