Hookah: The Story & Risks Behind It!

Hookah is one of the most practiced rituals in the United States, Australia, and Europe and in most Arab nations. The hookah, also known as water pipe, was invented in the Middle East. Originally is a single or multi-stemmed instrument for smoking in which the smoke is cooled and filtered through water. The tobacco smoke is referred as shisha or sheesha. This part of smoking practice started as part of the Arab cultures and traditions, but soon became a part of entertainment. The date and time when the hookah was invented is not known but it was in India where an Iranian physician invented the idea of smoking through tubes.

In today’s modern times, the sheesha is commonly used by teenager, and young adult at clubs, discos, home gathering, and social get-together. Although in today’s time anyone can get their hands on the hookah, centuries ago, only prominent people and family could’ve afford to buy such a luxuries type of entertainment. Pakistan families used to invite their guest to smoke shisha whereas as in Muslim Filipinos, minorities where the ones who use to practice this social tradition.

But in the United States this is nothing new, in the 1960 and 1970s the practice of the “sheesha” ended when the addition to marijuana became an additional component in the hookah structure. The traditional “pass the hose” phrase became famous because the hose was passed around as users partaking as they saw fit.

For those of you that do not know the process or operation of a Hookah here it is:

The jar at the bottom of the hookah is filled with water sufficient to submerge a few centimeters of the body tube, which is sealed tightly to it. Deeper water will only increase the inhalation force needed to use it. Tobacco is placed inside the bowl at the top of the hookah and then a foil or charcoal screen with a burning charcoal is placed on top. Some cultures cover the bowl with perforated tin foil or a metal screen to separate the coal and the tobacco, which minimizes inhalation of coal ash with the smoke. This may also reduce the temperature the tobacco is exposed to, in order to prevent burning the tobacco directly.When one inhales via the hose, air is pulled through the charcoal and into the bowl holding the tobacco. The hot air, heated by the charcoal vaporizes (not burns) the tobacco, thus producing smoke, which is passed down through the body tube that extends into the water in the jar. It bubbles up through the water, losing heat, and fills the top part of the jar, to which the hose is attached. When a smoker inhales from the hose, smoke passes into the lungs, and the change in pressure in the jar pulls more air through the charcoal, continuing the process.


There are some health risks when smoking hookah. Although research about hookah smoking is still emerging evidence show that it poses dangers:

• Hookah smoke contains high levels of toxic compounds, including tar, carbon monoxide, heavy metals and cancer-causing chemicals (carcinogens). In fact, hookah smokers are exposed to more carbon monoxide and smoke than are cigarette smokers.
• As with cigarette smoking, hookah smoking is linked to lung and oral cancers, heart disease and other serious illnesses.
• Hookah smoking delivers about the same amount of nicotine as cigarette smoking does, possibly leading to tobacco dependence.
• Hookah smoke poses dangers associated with secondhand smoke.
• Hookah smoking by pregnant women can result in low birth weight babies.
• Hookah pipes used in hookah bars and cafes may not be cleaned properly, risking the spread of infectious diseases.

When smoking hookah again please think about these risks I mentioned.