Also known in some countries as narghile, hookah or goza; #Shisha is a waterpipe wit a bowl, a hose, a smoke chamber & a pipe/mouthpiece.Specially made tobacco is heated & the smoke passes through water, absorbed into a hose connected to a mouthpiece for the smoker, The origin of #Shisha is disputed, some say Turkey or India but it’s accepted it came from Middle East/Asia. Shisha is global now though.
Popular #Shisha flavors include apple, mango, strawberries, coconut & mint. This gives the smoked tobacco a sweet smell & smooth taste.The presence of the fruits & flavor makes the #Shisha damp, so the tobacco is burnt with wood/charcoal to bring out its smoke & aroma. The sweet scent, the pleasurable taste &the awesome feeling is the reason that #Shisha smoking is now a regular habit for many people. For some people, a Friday evening is not complete without at least one hour of #Shisha smoking. For others it’s up to 3or4times a week.
Now because of the flavors, the sweet aroma & nice taste, there’s a gross misconception that #Shisha is NOT harmful, unlike cigarettes.
Others say since the tobacco smoke has passed through water,all the toxic chemicals in the #Shisha hav been filtered out. This is a lie.I need to be very assertive in stating categorically that #Shisha smoking is a destructive habit regardless of the smoke being flavored. Despite the fact that #Shisha is flavored &passed through water, the carcinogens (cancer-causing agents) &nicotine remains very present.
regular #Shisha smokers should know they are at risk of the same medical problems as cigarette/tobacco smokers. The nicotine present in #Shisha smoke is very addictive & things may degenerate that the smoker may need the #Shisha every day.
According to a W.H.O research, the amount of smoke inhaled in one hour of #Shisha smoking is the same as smoking 100-200 cigarettes.People smoke #Shisha for longer periods than they smoke cigarettes. Just 1 puff of inhaled #Shisha smoke is like smoking a whole cigarette.
It’s hard to imagine but its true. Just one hour of #Shisha is same as smoking abt 100-200 cigarettes. Yet ppl smoke #Shisha for hours. The wrong assumption that Shisha smoking is harmless compared to cigarettes is the reason why many engage in reckless #Shisha smoking.Just like cigarettes, #Shisha smoke contains toxic agents like tobacco, nicotine, tar, Carbon monoxide, and heavy metals like Arsenic.The nicotine content of #Shisha is very addictive and may lead to a smoker being dependent. That’s why they feel incomplete without it.Shisha smokers are at risk of heart disease, respiratory problems, various cancer types & in women, possible problems in pregnancy.
Is herbal #Shisha safe? NO. It is not. Shisha, whether herbal/not, usually contains tobacco & that is the cause of many medical issues.And even if u find a tobacco-free #Shisha, the smoke u inhale from the wood/charcoal contains Carbon monoxide that destroys the lungs.
Are fruit-based #Shisha safe? NO as well. Whether fruitbased or not, Shisha contains tobacco rich in smoke containing many toxins.
Also before You start feeling “This #Shisha talk is none of my business”, do u frequently visit bars/clubs where there’s a lot of Shisha smoking? If u go to bars/clubs with friends where there’s lots of #Shisha smoking, u are a secondary smoker, even if the tube isnt in your mouth. Shisha tobacco and smoke are medically known to contain carcinogenic agents that may cause lung cancer, oral cancer & bladder cancer. Babies born to pregnant women who smoke #Shisha weigh less at birth & are at higher risk of respiratory problems, than other babies.
The American Lung Association, the British Heart Foundation and the W.H.O all say that #Shisha smoking is medically harmful to smokers.
So after saying all the harmful consequences of #Shisha smoking, the solution is to STOP smoking. Let me give simple tips that may help.
1. Make up your mind to stop. That’s the first step & the most important step. Be determined to stop, even if u fail at first.
2 Try to avoid friends, occasions, bars & parties where u know u wont be able to say no to smoking. Think of ur health & stay determined
3 Always remember smoking, or drinking, is not synonymous to “class” or “being rich”. It is ignorant people that reason that way.
4 Cut down on alcohol. It has been found that some types of alcohol eg beer, usually makes smoking taste so good. Just stay away.
5 Identify times u crave #Shisha. Try to distract yourself. Walk away. Dance. Go online. Chew a gum. Make a call. Anything else but smoke.
6 Make friends with non smokers. That way u reduce temptation. Never envy smokers/see smoking as somethin u miss. Only think of ur health.
Credits : Dr Olufunmilayo.
No comments:
Post a Comment