Although many people enjoy the sensation of smoking a hookah, with its smoke considered softer and the water purportedly filtering harmful substances, it’s important to understand that hookah and traditional cigarettes have fundamental differences. Cigarettes typically contain high levels of nicotine and tar that are inhaled directly in a short period of time, while smoking a hookah takes place in longer sessions with a larger volume of smoke.
However, the big question that often arises is, is smoking a hookah safer than smoking cigarettes? Despite the “safer” impression, both still carry serious health risks that need to be considered before trying or continuing the habit.
Myths and Facts About Smoking a Hookah
As one of the increasingly popular social trends, smoking a hookah is often considered safer compared to cigarettes. Many people view hookah as a lighter and less risky alternative.
However, in reality, there are many myths circulating about the safety of smoking a hookah. In this section, we will discuss some common myths about hookah and compare them with the facts to help understand the actual health risks.
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Smoking a Hookah Does Not Cause Addiction
One of the myths often heard is that smoking a hookah does not cause addiction. Many people think that hookah contains little or no nicotine, so it doesn’t lead to dependence like cigarettes do. This belief often leads some people to consider smoking hookah as a lighter or non-addictive option.
In reality, hookah contains a significant amount of nicotine, and nicotine is a highly addictive substance. Just like cigarettes, smoking a hookah can lead to nicotine dependence if done regularly. Someone who frequently smokes a hookah remains at risk of developing addiction because the nicotine in the hookah smoke enters the bloodstream and has the same effects as cigarette smoke. Therefore, smoking a hookah is not free from the potential for addiction, even though it is often considered more relaxed.
Considered Safer
Many people believe that smoking shisha is safer compared to regular cigarettes because the smoke passes through water first, which is thought to filter out most of the harmful substances like carbon monoxide and tar. This misconception is widespread, especially among beginners who want to try hookah as an alternative to cigarettes. They assume that the water acts as a filter that reduces harmful potential, making smoking hookah seem safer.
In reality, the water in a hookah only filters out a small portion of the harmful substances in the smoke. While there is some reduction in larger particles, most harmful substances like nicotine and carbon monoxide are still inhaled by the user. In fact, research shows that smoking a hookah can result in higher exposure to carbon monoxide and tar compared to regular cigarettes. Therefore, despite the belief that hookah is safer, the health risks remain the same, and it can even be more dangerous due to the larger volume of smoke.
Only Dangerous If Done in Large Amounts
There is a belief that smoking shisha is only dangerous if done in large quantities or too often. Many people think that smoking hookah occasionally doesn’t have a significant impact on health, especially when compared to the more frequent habit of smoking cigarettes. As a result, many feel safer trying hookah in moderation.
However, in reality, even if smoking a hookah is done in a single session, the amount of smoke inhaled can be far greater than smoking a single cigarette. One session of smoking a hookah can last from 30 minutes to an hour, during which time the user may inhale more smoke and harmful substances than they would by smoking several cigarettes.
In fact, in one session of hookah, a person can inhale a quantity of carbon monoxide and nicotine equivalent to smoking more than 10 cigarettes. Therefore, the health dangers of smoking hookah are not dependent on how often it’s done but rather on the amount of smoke inhaled in each session.
Hookah Content vs Cigarettes
Cigarettes contain a number of harmful chemicals that can endanger health, including nicotine, tar, and carbon monoxide. Nicotine is the primary addictive substance that causes dependence, while tar is a byproduct of tobacco combustion that can accumulate in the lungs, leading to cancer and respiratory disorders.
Carbon monoxide, a toxic gas produced from burning tobacco, reduces the amount of oxygen in the blood and increases the risk of heart disease. Additionally, cigarettes also contain many other carcinogenic substances that can damage body tissues and contribute to various chronic diseases such as lung cancer, stroke, and heart disease.
Meanwhile, the chemical contents in hookah, although seemingly “lighter” because its smoke passes through water, still contain a number of harmful substances similar to those in cigarettes. Nicotine and tar are the two main substances found in hookah smoke, which can cause addiction and long-term health issues. Even though the smoke travels through a different path, hookah also produces carbon monoxide that can reduce oxygen in the blood, similar to the effects of cigarettes.
Furthermore, because hookah is often smoked in longer sessions with a larger volume of smoke, someone smoking hookah may inhale more harmful substances in a single session than by smoking several cigarettes. This shows that despite differences in the smoking method, hookah still carries significant health risks.
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Reducing Negative Effects with Coconut Charcoal Briquettes
The use of coconut charcoal briquettes as fuel for smoking hookah has become a popular alternative, as they are considered more environmentally friendly and reduce some of the negative impacts associated with traditional fuel sources like wood charcoal. Coconut charcoal briquettes are made from coconut waste that is processed into solid briquettes, which burn cleaner and produce less harmful smoke compared to wood charcoal. This can reduce the amount of carbon monoxide generated during a hookah smoking session, which is often a primary cause of respiratory and cardiovascular issues in users.
In addition, coconut charcoal briquettes have a more stable and consistent burning temperature, which can affect the tobacco combustion process in a more controlled manner. This can help reduce the formation of tar and other carcinogenic substances that usually emerge from incomplete combustion in the smoke.
High-Quality Coconut Charcoal Briquette Manufacturers
Choosing a reliable supplier of high-quality coconut charcoal briquettes for hookah smoking is important. You can obtain top-quality coconut charcoal briquettes from the best manufacturers in Indonesia, such as Little Briquette. To purchase at affordable prices, you can directly contact the admin through the provided number here.