Health Concerns As A Vocalist.

[Virgil]

I'm a vocal student and I love hookah. that being said, I was wondering if there were any professional vocalists on the board who may be able to give some advice/opinion on smoking shisha and the effects it may have on your lung capacity or vocal instrument. All opinions are welcome though. As a vocalist I try to abstain from anything that might harm my instrument but I was introduced to hookah a couple of years ago and really enjoy smoking it. I'm not to keen on giving it up unless I have a good reason to. up until now I have figured that the occasional smoke is'nt going to have much, if any effect on my lungs or vocal chords. The lungs is what I am worried about most actually. to my knowledge smoking ANYTHING is going to have negative effects on lung capacity whether is be tobacco or the herbal stuff. So give me your opinions. Proof backing up your claim is encouraged

[mitchell8621]

I produce/sound guy for/light guy for a band, and the lead singer and trumptet player smoke with me nightly and have no ill effects...we even have the customary pre show smoke without error

[Canon]

i smoke daily and i run several times a week. 2-3 miles everytime i run. in the past few months ive actually improved my run while smoking.

the body is an outstanding machine, i have a big lung capacity and ive noticed only shortness of breath soon after smoking, sometimes coughing the next day if i smoke enough, but its never affected my talking voice. Edited March 12, 2008 by Canon

[mdl]

I sing a lot of drunken karaoke and smoking hookah doesn't have any effect on my ability to bring the passion of Air Supply.