Shisha, also known as hookah or waterpipe smoking, has grown in popularity worldwide, especially among younger adults and in social settings. Despite its widespread use, many people wonder whether shisha is harmful and how its health risks compare to traditional cigarette smoking. This article examines the health effects of shisha, common misconceptions, and why it is considered harmful. It is intended for smokers, health-conscious individuals, and anyone curious about the safety of shisha.

What Is Shisha Smoking?
Shisha involves inhaling smoke generated by heating flavoured tobacco using charcoal. The smoke passes through water before being inhaled through a hose. The water cools the smoke, making it feel smoother, which contributes to its appeal. Shisha sessions often last longer than smoking a cigarette and may involve sharing a mouthpiece among several users.

Health Risks Associated with Shisha
Despite the cooling effect of water, shisha smoke contains many harmful substances including nicotine, tar, carbon monoxide, heavy metals, and carcinogens. Research shows that a typical one-hour shisha session can expose users to as much or more toxic smoke as several cigarettes. This exposes smokers to increased risks of lung cancer, heart disease, respiratory infections, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Nicotine Addiction and Exposure
Shisha contains nicotine, the addictive component found in tobacco. Regular shisha use leads to nicotine dependence, making quitting difficult. The social and relaxed nature of shisha smoking can mask the addictive potential and contribute to frequent use.

Common Misconceptions About Safety
Many users wrongly believe that shisha is safer than cigarettes because the smoke passes through water or because it is flavoured. However, the water does not filter out toxic chemicals and carcinogens. The longer duration and deeper inhalation during shisha sessions often increase exposure compared to cigarette smoking.

Additional Concerns
Sharing shisha mouthpieces poses risks for spreading infectious diseases including respiratory infections and oral herpes. The charcoal used to heat the tobacco also produces harmful carbon monoxide and other toxins that add to the health risks.

Summary
Shisha smoking is harmful due to exposure to toxic chemicals, nicotine addiction, and increased risk of serious diseases. Despite perceptions of safety, it carries health risks comparable to or greater than cigarette smoking. Awareness of these risks is important for users to make informed decisions about shisha use.