zeidTheWriter

Shisha anyone?

Smoking a water-pipe or hookah may be chic, but the carbon monoxide, nicotine, tar and heavy metals contained in the smoke pose often-ignored health threats, researchers say.

The concentration of cancer-causing and addictive substances in tobacco blends smoked in water-pipes can be higher than those found in cigarettes, according to a report published in the medical journal, Pediatrics.

Common for centuries in the Arabian Peninsula, Turkey, India, Pakistan and some regions of China, water-pipe smoking had been in decline in the past century and principally become a habit of older men in bazaar cafes.

But the report cited an upsurge in hookah smoking in recent years with "hookah bars" in major cities. It estimated that more than 100 million people globally smoke a water-pipe on any given day.

False perception

"This phenomenon has been attributed to the perception that water-pipe smoking is less dangerous than cigarette smoking, its easy availability, its low cost, and a number of other factors," wrote report author Barry Knishkowy of Israel's Ministry of Health in Jerusalem.

In Israel, sharing a water-pipe is a way for the nation's Jewish and Arab youth to mesh two cultures, and a survey of 6000 teenagers found 40% of Jews and 31% of Arabs had smoked a water-pipe.

The tobacco used in hookahs comes in three forms: maasel contains tobacco mixed with honey or molasses, tumbak or ajami is pure tobacco paste, and jurak usually contains fruits or oils. Some smokers add alcohol, hashish or marijuana.

Carbon monoxide concentrations found in the bloodstreams of water-pipe smokers has been found to be quadruple the levels in cigarette smokers, the report said. The nicotine content in water-pipe tobacco also tends to be higher than that found in cigarettes. However, pipe smokers are less likely to make it a daily habit.

Studies have shown lung and bladder cancer rates are higher among water-pipe smokers than among nonsmokers, and they are also at risk from pulmonary disease and other types of malignancies, the report said.

Inducing infertility

A study of Egyptian couples found an association between water-pipe smoking and infertility, it said.

Water-pipe or hookah smoking is known by various names including narghile, aggileh, goza, hubble-bubble, and shisha, and was believed to have originated in India.

It is relatively inexpensive and many believe it lacks the unhealthy stigma sometimes associated with cigarettes, thinking wrongly that the water-cooled smoke has fewer unhealthy ingredients.

The report urged health authorities to monitor the incidence of water-pipe smoking and regulate the content of the substances smoked. It also suggested providing disposable nozzles to lessen the spread of infections.

Source: AlJazeera.net

2 Comments:

Your post (this post) was on target for stop smoking plan. It's interesting to know that many people don't understant stop smoking plan like you do. Good job.

By free quit smoking kit, at 1:10 PM
Just a refresher to us all.

AMONG THE IMPORTANT CONTENTS FROM - THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD RASULULLAH S.A.W.'s LAST SERMON

(Among the contents extracted from the last Sermon delivered by Rasulullah SAW on the Ninth Day of Zulhijjah 10 AH at the Uranah Valley of Mount Arafah)

In the Name of Allah Most Beneficient and Most Merciful

O People, lend me an attentive ear, for I don't know whether, after this year, I shall ever be amongst you again. Therefore listen to what I am saying to you carefully and take this words to those who could not be present here today.

O People, just as you regard this month, this day, this city as Sacred, so regard the life and property of every Muslim as a sacred trust. Return the goods entrusted to you to their rightful owners. Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you. Remember that you will indeed meet your Lord, and that He will indeed reckon your deeds. ALLAH has forbidden you to take usury (Interest), therefore all interest obligation shall henceforth be repealed.

Beware of Satan, for your safety of your religion. He has lost all hope that he will ever be able to lead you astray in big things, so beware of following him in small things.

O People, as much as you have your rights over your women, they too have their rights over you. If they have fulfilled your rights then they too deserve the rights to be fed and clothed in kindness. Treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and comitted helpers. And your rights over them are to disallow anyone you dislike into your houses and you are forbidden to commit adultery.

O People, listen to me in earnest, worship Allah, perform the five daily prayers (Solah), fast during the month of Ramadhan, perform Zakat from your wealth, perform Hajj if you can afford to. Know that every Muslim is the brother of another Muslim. (All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any superiority over white) You are all equal. Nobody is more superior than the other except in piety and good action.

Remember, that one day you will appear before Allah and be accountable for every deed you have committed. So beware, do not ever be lead astrayed from the path of righteousness after I am gone.

O People, No Prophet or Apostle will come after me and no new faith will be born. Therefore, O People, reason well, understand my words which I have conveyed to you. I leave behind two things; which if you hold to both strongly, forever, you will never be lead astrayed. That is - the QUR'AN and my SUNNAH (examples)

All those who listen to me shall pass on my words to others and those to others again; and may the last ones understand my words better than those who listen to me direcly. I bear witness O Allah that I have conveyed Your Message to Your people.

By Anonymous, at 12:42 PM


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