How Bad Is Hookah For You

[Switch]

as far as the water changing color goes, i have noticed it in my hookah, but i think it it mostly due to the juices oozing down out of the bowl. I rinse my hookah after every use, and there is always juice and stuff in the stem. So thats why the water changes color. to change color from the smoke, i think you would need to smoke a lot with the same water

[SupremeOstrich]

I think in those research experiments where they came up with a vastly exaggerated figure of cigs / 1 hookah session, they used insane amounts of heat on the tobacco to squeeze the most harmful chemicals they could out (although i'm not particularly sure how heat effects this, just what I heard)

So does the heat play a major part?

[mathuv]

as far as the water changing color goes, i have noticed it in my hookah, but i think it it mostly due to the juices oozing down out of the bowl. I rinse my hookah after every use, and there is always juice and stuff in the stem. So thats why the water changes color. to change color from the smoke, i think you would need to smoke a lot with the same water

yeah it sometimes turns yellow for my friend from the nicotine and when i wash out my stem, yellowish water comes out sometimes

[r1v3th3ad]

as for the chewing gum posts...wonder what Frued would say about that

Back on topic: I think the worst part of hookah smoking, to your health, is the coal. It sends a lot of carcinogens into your system. This is why we need to come up with an artificial heat. My idea was to rig up a cig. lighter from a car, so you can plug it into a wall outlet. Man would that be nice...something to try this summer when I have some extra cash laying around...

[aldonb1]

r1v3thad. There actually haven't been any real carcinoginical studies done on hookah. majority of them have been simple quantitative studies and not of a qualitative nature. Personally I doubt coals "sends a lot of carcinogens into your system." Carbon monoxide on the other hand, I'm sure there a lot of this in your system. (Usually the reason for feeling sick). Besides carbon monoxide and a few heavy metals I personally haven't came across anything to show that "a lot of carcinogens" are being introduced. Maybe a few, but you get a few just walking down the street.

In regards to the thread as a whole: Again most research has been quantitative. There is roughly 20x more Nicotine Free Dry Particle Matter "tar" produced during one Hookah session when compared to 1 low tar cig. This does not mean it is 20x worse.

The contents of the "tar" in hookah has not truly be qualitatively measured, and it is believed that due to the baking nature of the shisha and not a full blown combustion reaction like in cigaretts. This means the tar is formed in a different manner and will have different properties. In my opinion, it will have less carcinogenic agents present due to the different heat source.

~ab

[St. Goodypants]

Another flaw which I've seen a lot in studies comparing cigarrettes to hookah is that they compare a single bowl of shisha tobacco with a single cigarrette. That is obviously going to skew the results.

But essentially aldonb is right, there needs to be more study on the differences between the two before anything can be said with any certanty.

[r1v3th3ad]

+1
I guess I should have checked more...more of the word by mouth on carcinogens...can't always believe what you hear

[Sonthert]

I am speaking, of course as Eric, not the president of a hookah tobacco company. I'm a hookah smoker, too, this is what I believe, whether I have tons of proof or not.

Carcinogens are produced from high heat in the burning of cigarettes. A study I heard about shows the higher the ignition temperature of the cigarette, the more carcinogens are produced. Hookahs operate at much lower temperatures than cigarettes.

Charcoal burning doesn't have anywhere near the same ability to produce carcinogens...thats why we make charcoal in the first place...to remove organic compounds that might end up being carcinogenic. There's a lot more interesting stuff that could become carcinogens in cigarettes. That being said, as has been pointed out, the charcoal heats the tobacco, but the tobacco doesn't burn (ideally). I assume its safer, the data on pipe smokers seems to indicate mortality rates similar to nonsmokers.

I'm generally of the opinion, also, that the water in a hookah filters, but not chemicals, necessarily. Its primary function is to filter large particulate matter (ash, clumps of tobacco, etc.) and prevent it from traveling up the hose.

[r1v3th3ad]

Thanks for clearing that up Eric, that makes a lot of sense and cleared up the knot that was tied in my head...

[mathuv]

yes that is what the majority of hookah smokers beleive. im with them.

[PhishPhood]

I look at hookah the way I look at everything...

I enjoy doing it, so why not. People say things like "Oh, in 50 years you will regret it". But who really knows what will happen in 50 years.. I could get owned by a semi tomorrow and thats it, so would smoking a hookah really matter.

I try and bring this into all aspects of my life, I'd rather die 10 years early and enjoy the shit outa those previous years than ever look back and say "I wish I did that".

[Blue Elephant Magazine]

Time to flog the myth busters' forum into getting them to break the myth

I'm actually all for this, combine one of my favorite shows with one of my favorite activities.

One of the articles in our first issue is about the smoking bans and the study that caused all the controversy on hookah versus cigs.

And while I know anecdotal evidence counts for squat...my lungs notice a real difference between a week-long-pack-a-day-cig-session and a week-long-two-bowl-a-day-hookah-session (or even a 3 or 4 bowl). It's the difference between being winded after only sleeping and becoming a couch potato but maintaining the ability to breathe. Edited February 26, 2008 by Blue Elephant Magazine

[jerrysalem]

[quote name='mathuv' date='Feb 24 2008, 09:00 PM' post='212647']
[quote name='.DowN.' post='212612' date='Feb 24 2008, 08:20 PM']I mean, to be honest, anything you smoke wise you take into your lungs is not good for you, and I mean that is what you would hear from a doctor anyway. But from the research I have found, and what I can gather from it, I really don't think it is at all that bad compared to cigarettes. Cigarettes have WAY more other chemicals and nastiness compared to hookah (No offense to cig smokers). A lot of us here do smoke hookah a lot, but not as much as your average person that goes through a pack like its gum. Hookah is filtered as well, a lot better than a silly little cigarette filter. I could ramble on and on about it, but I hope you get the idea of what I am trying to say, lol.

If you go through a pack of gum and you live in Singapore (i'm goin there next week) you are in way more trouble than if you smoke your hookah Just ask my wife who is sick of my 'chewing gum in Singapore' cracks by now

[jerrysalem]

Someone on the forum posted that they had an xray of their lungs and it was clear.

I exercise every day for half an hour hard running and no problems even though I smoke a good 45 mins a day hookah. I used to smoke cigarettes and the thought of going back to smoking them makes me ill.

Long live the ancient and noble positive custom of Arabia-we need to hear more good things about the vast majority of Arabic people who are really fine-slightly prejudiced as my 'jidor' (grandpa) came from Syria, in reality a very friendly country.

[zeppyrkr]

most of us should worry about our diets way more then smoking come on!

[Johnny_D]

most of us should worry about our diets way more then smoking come on!

+2,305,861

I should probably change my login name to 'FatSmokingBastardGoingToDieVeryShortly'

FSBGTDVS. Edited February 26, 2008 by Johnny_D

[zeppyrkr]

don't worry i live in america, its only a matter of time before i die along with ronald mcdonald

[staygone]

Eh, if your worried about health, don't smoke anything. It's only making it worst.

I'd be more concerned about unhealthy addiction over anything.

-QM

[r1v3th3ad]

I just love it when a fat person walks up to me while I'm smoking a cig and says something like "you should quit smoking, its bad for your health/gonna kill ya someday". I generally reply with "You should stop eating, its gonna kill you someday".
And then theres the old people...your outside, 15 feet from the door of some building and you hear as they go in "I smell a cigarette!""Quit smoking, you're endangering others' health" etc etc etc...When they really piss me off I usually throw out the "I smell death""You don't have much longer to live and second hand smoke won't effect you fast enough with the time you have left"...etc...

I hate people

[staygone]

Best to get used to them now, gonna have to deal with them all your life. I just put on my facade and silently wish death upon them

-QM

[r1v3th3ad]

I'm loud...as my friend says "lemme tell you a little about yourself"...
I adapted that to my life, someone is gonna be an ass, it gets turned around on them.
And I'm almost always no holds bars(if thats how the saying goes)...Only exception is when someone is nice I.E. When I'm at a concert and someone comes to me "hey, my girl is pregnant(they are standing next to me), could you please put out your cigarette?"
In that case I do and move, unless its a great spot, then I just wait it out until the end of the show to have another

[staygone]

Seems like the bad stigma only comes your way because of smoking cigs. Karma's a bitch aint it? The rude people should have it coming. What happened to minding your own business?

I hate the people who come to our movie theater and say we're going to hell for working on Sundays. OK buddy, if we weren't doing so you wouldn't be watching your movie ya dumass.

-QM Edited February 26, 2008 by QuiltedMaple

[amnite]

I am speaking, of course as Eric, not the president of a hookah tobacco company. I'm a hookah smoker, too, this is what I believe, whether I have tons of proof or not.

Carcinogens are produced from high heat in the burning of cigarettes. A study I heard about shows the higher the ignition temperature of the cigarette, the more carcinogens are produced. Hookahs operate at much lower temperatures than cigarettes.

Charcoal burning doesn't have anywhere near the same ability to produce carcinogens...thats why we make charcoal in the first place...to remove organic compounds that might end up being carcinogenic. There's a lot more interesting stuff that could become carcinogens in cigarettes. That being said, as has been pointed out, the charcoal heats the tobacco, but the tobacco doesn't burn (ideally). I assume its safer, the data on pipe smokers seems to indicate mortality rates similar to nonsmokers.

I'm generally of the opinion, also, that the water in a hookah filters, but not chemicals, necessarily. Its primary function is to filter large particulate matter (ash, clumps of tobacco, etc.) and prevent it from traveling up the hose.

+1 well said. It wasnt just one study that said about the high heat it was a study from a world famous scientist, who was one of the first to highlight/open out to people about the dangers of cigarettes and therefore tried different ways of reducing its affects. *lowing temps*... Since then I think a couple of other studys have confirmed this.

Anyway yh being overweight is a big issue. The next issue now. I remember when I went to america seein soo many Mcdonalds. The funny part is when your on a highway and once when I was on a highway I saw not one Mcdonalds but 2!! One open during the day and one 24 Hours. You would expect it to be empty at night. It was like a mile long queue on the drive thru. I dont know if americans realise this but there chips are filledd with salt, I mean its like a bucket of salt on the chips, super super large burger and super super large drink haha lol Ofcourse everything in America is extra large (in other words twice the size of what is in the UK)... I've even heard recently how the chairs in america are growing in sizes lol.

[Texico]

McDonald's is also the shittiest fast food out there, and, honestly, their hamburgers are too damn small. A big mac with fries and a drink is like half a meal, and no I'm not fat. In fact, I'm probably underweight. I loves me a supersonic jalapeno cheeseburger with large chili cheese fries and a large lime slush. Damn I wish there was a Sonic just off campus...

On topic:

I don't smoke cigarettes, so I can't compare the two, but I smoke hookah heavily on the weekends. When I first started I was also less active than I am now, and I smoked less than I do now. That being said, now that I smoke more and I'm more active my breathing has also improved relative to what it used to be. Also, despite smoking heavily on the weekends I only experience a psychological desire to smoke during the week. My closest friends are the ones with whom I smoke, and since they live off-campus I usually only get to see them on the weekends. I attribute my desire to smoke to my desire to chill with my friends, but there is no noticeable physical addiction that I can feel.

[ilikevodka]

Here's a little food for thought:

When Camel Crushes came out, I had the idea to break off the filter and stuff it in the stem where the hose met. I smoked an entire bowl, then removed the filter. It was still pure white. Even after one cigarette, those filters are vomit colored.