Is shisha bad for you?
Shisha has been around for hundreds of years initially originating from the middle east. Over the last few years it has been rising in popularity in the western world. So for those of you who dont know a shisha is an instrument used for smoking flavoured tobacco. When inhaled the smoker, can get a feel for the aroma and flavour within the tobacco. This experience is similar to smelling the aroma from aromatherapy oils.
Now to the question, is shisha bad for you? There is a lot of debate in this area as some argue it is harmful to smokers whereas others say it is not harmful. Most health experts state that shisha does have harmful effects but at the same time acknowledge that furthur research is needed in this area.
The tobacco used is mixed with a particular flavour. Flavours available range from cola to liquorice. Double apple is known for being a favourite amongst shisha smokers. The shisha consists of a glass base, which is filled with water, (it can also be filled with milk to produce more dense smoke) a clay bowl which is where the shisha is placed and a pipe to smoke though. The clay bowl at the top of the shisha is covered with foil (with tiny holes to aid the heating of the tobacco) and then coal is placed on to of the foil to heat the tobacco. When the smoker inhales through the pipe, the smoke produced from the heated tobacco is drawn through the water and through the pipe. The smoke, in most cases is very smooth, with a fruity taste. Many first time smokers also state that they feel light headed after 10-15 minutes of smoking. A typical session can last anywhere from 50 minutes to three hours, and many see shisha as a means for socialising.
The question at hand relating to whether shisha is actually bad for you has been debated.
The supporters of shisha claim that when the smoke is taken through the water, the majority of carcogenic materials, tar and nicotine are filtered out of the smoke and thus the result is very little, damaging material. But they agree that if the smoke is inhaled into the lungs, then some ill affects may occur, that are typically associated with smoking. This is due to the fact that the lungs are very delicate organs that can be very easily damaged. Furthermore in some shisha cafes, the pipes are not cleaned appropriately and the shishas are not cleaned regularly and this can bring up new health affects that are passed through bacterial or viral particles from person to person.
The other side, state that although their may by very negligible amounts of dangerous chemicals inhaled, the fact that a shisha session can last up to 3 hours means that a smoker can take in the same amount of damaging substances as in 20 cigarettes. A theory backed by many health professionals. The World Health Organisation also stated that ill health can be associated with shisha smoke, but they do agree that more research is needed in the area. Some scientists have rubbished the theory that the water filters out all the harmful chemicals as normal water cannot do this, and does not have this filtering property when used in a shisha device.
Many shisha smokers claim that shisha is not addictive but rather it is the social aspect that brings them back for more. Others claim that shisha can be very addictive and the social aspect is only an excuse to smoke shisha. Because of the recent rise in shisha cafes, and the number of shisha smokers in the west increasing. It is only a matter of time before in-depth research is carried out into the area and a conclusion is made.
The recent smoking ban in England has caused the closure of many shisha cafes throughout England, and has had a very damaging effect on the business’s. Shisha cafes are only allowed to serve shisha to customers if they are smoked outside of the premise. But with the winter months approaching it is predicted that there will be a fall in the number of customers due to the cold temperatures. There were many petitions to keep shisha cafes exempt from the ban but they were unsuccesfull.
Technorati Tags: shisha, harmful shisha, flavoured tobacco, shisha smoke, double apple
I would just like to say, I took in the following: The bad stuff might be filtered through the water/milk and might not. Also that there is really no actual right or wrong just peoples different opinions. Additionally the real bad part is the length at which it is smoked and not cleaned.
Mostly I hope it doesn’t become ruined by some multi-millionaire company that maybe makes it more addicting. I will take heed to not smoke it as long, clean it often, and get thicker smoke.
P.S. if you could do me a HUGE favor and email me when this updates, that would be awesome.
Seriously!Just take a cig and blow it through one label of a tissue,then do the same with shisha.You will see the difference trust me!The cig smoke “paints” it yellow but the shisha doesnt.I think thats enough proof…
BTW the most damaging thing in a cigarette is the paper because when it burns and is inhaled tar gets into the lungs while there is no tar in the tobacco itself.
HELL YA SHISHA FOR LIFE BITCHES
I really love shiSHa!
for me as i lived in middle east for 5 years, i love sheesha!
aww i love middle east…
even now that i live in UK i still smoke it at my house. i was really dissapointed by the law of not smoking inside any public places, coz its just racist to smokers! actually i hate england with all those stupid ppl and their stupid laws!
but well there is too much to be said about them, lets dont get into it….
as in my opinion sheesha is not only bringigng people together, the truth why its so popular in middle east is because due to not enough activies in the most countries in the middle east, sheesha cafes are all over the place, at least 5 sheesha cafes will be found in one area, and it is a part of life, to sit with friends over the sheesha, talk, play board or computer games, and listen arabic music
its just so easy and happy there :/
ohhh well my comment is too long ttyl guys love ya and love sheesha <3 mwahh
experts say in a shisha session you can inhale the equivalent of 20 cigarettes i find this outrageous i feel fine after a shisha session if i sat there and smoked 20 cigarettes in a row i would be violently ill
i smoke sheesha almost everyday not that its addictive but just a get 2gether,, so fuck out..whoeva made such shit research…go bck 2 cresh…
For the person who said he lives in the UK, and hates england and the people… For one is stereotyping. And for two is ‘racist’…
But it never looks this way when the boot is on the other foot does it.
Just winds me up, Why the hell live here if you hate the country and people. Makes no sense.
totally agree with you there Dave, and i tried Shisha about 2 years ago with some Turkish friends, and was nice, we chilled out on the beach, had a laugh and was relaxing, it became a sociable event for us at least once a month, more in the summer.
i cannot stand smoking of cigarettes, it burns the throat as you toke whereas with a shisha i did not experience this, has anyone tried it with milk as opposed to water?? curious as to what you think, may just try it tonight. also does anyone know if there would be any effects if say perhaps vodka or other alcoholic liquids were used in the shisha??
sorry for the lengthy message but just curious and wanted to share some experiences i had with shisha
I smoked shishe while I was 12. I didn’t have any problem till now I don’t, which I think it is OK to smoke shisha. But my consideration is being healthy is greater than any thing else. sometime I think it is OK but same time I think it is not. I am not addict to shisha, but I feel not normal after smoked, which it might be a bit of damage on any where of my brain or nerves. I am not sure because, after 10-15 m I am absolutely fine. so what I am insisting is being healthy is greater than being unhealthy. as same time you know and me too in this country great Britain, alcohol and smoke cigarettes are free and been abuse, which they are not good for you opposite in obvious bad for you. but they are free to buy and to drink and smoke. so I am going to trust scientist if they say is OK I have no problem to continue smoking and socializing. I am from Iran and shisha is something traditional stuff for us. we call shisha gheliuon. so where name of shisha came from no Idea. so anyway if you could love every thing you will love yourself fully too. and you will be happy ever in deep. no argument I love all people all around world they are and you are part of my family.
i smoke my own shit, 1st i eat 2 big macs, then leave it in my sytem to smoothen it, then shit it out, put it in a split wit da kush and da honey and tobabbo, then blaze it haaard.
I used to be a smoker but I quit when I was 15. Now I’m 47 and I’m “hooked” again. Not really, but I love the relaxing aspect of it. I mostly do it alone while having an evening drink on my balcony. For sure I’m going to try it with milk next time as the kick for me is seeing all the smoke and smelling the flavor.. However, all that said, I am a little concerned about the effects it has on us, whether we inhale or not. Thanks for sharing your thoughts guys.
Hell yeah dude hookahs rock!!!! ;p
dude, vodka in your pipe? im thinking it might catch fire, any presence of flame is good enough lol
Hello, there is a major difference between shisha, cigarettes and cigars. This difference is that Shisha Tobacco has 0% Tar! and only 0.05% nicotine. Therefore, the two dangerous and toxic subtances in shisha, is the smoke emitted from the coals (which is filtered through water, and the only dangerous smoke from coal is the inital start up smoke i.e. the smoke from the inital start up of quick lite coal caused by black powder.) The dangerous subtance is the nicotine, however, this simply is the substance which causes an addiction.
Therefore, yes shisha is bad for you (as with alcohol, and any other subtance which affects your mental and physical health.) However, it is probably the least dangerous form of smoking. Something which you should all think about is, its the liver or the lungs, (liver - drinking, lungs - smoking.) They are equally as bad as each other, its just a personal preference.
To conclude, shisha is not as bad as people say, yes it is bad, but its not THAT bad for the occasional smoke (2-3days a week), just think that people that drink, generally drink to get drunk, and with shisha, the only thing you get is a SLIGHT high but only when you take massive puffs every minute.
P.S: You can buy tobbaco free shisha molasses, simply research on ‘Herbal Shisha Molasses’.
Regards, Enjoy Responsibly
Hi I tryed shisha the other day and we were cillin and I’m 14 should I carry on if I want to be in the marries ??? Plz email n say thx