Shisha, the "silent disease" eating up the youth from within

 

 One of the most dangerous facts about shisha is that, it produces toxic substances that can be found in cigarette; the most crazy thing about this fact is that, the toxic substances in shisha is twice or more toxic as that of cigarette.


Centuries ago, smoking shisha was a Persian and Indian way of smoking tobacco.

According to Wikipedia "A hookah, shisha, or waterpipe is a single- or multi-stemmed instrument for heating or vaporizing and then smoking either tobacco, flavored tobacco, or sometimes cannabis, hashish and opium. The smoke is passed through a water basin—often glass-based—before inhalation"



The cannabis, opium or hashish that sometimes can be vaporised with the help of shisha equipment is the most scary.

Shisha is smoked in public because it is considered legal. Why is it not illegal because in my view is should be; shisha can be used as cover-up to smoke cannabis, hashish and opium; how on earth can you detect that the shisha someone is vaping is filled with illegal drugs. If it cannot be detected then the best way is to illegalise it.



Shisha, also known as hookah, waterpipe, argileh, goza, hubbl bubble smoking or narghile, is now a thing for showing off. Young men and women even older ones do not mind sharing videos and pictures of themselves smoking shisha on social media to show the world that they are living the best life.

Shisha bars and lounges are now dotted around every corner of this country; owners are really cashing out because it is the new flex now.





Shisha is one of the main causes of cancer in recent times.

According to the Centre For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),

"The charcoal used to heat the tobacco can raise health risks by producing high levels of carbon monoxide, metals, and cancer-causing chemicals. Even after it has passed through water, the smoke from a hookah has high levels of these toxic agents."



Cancers associated to the lungs, stomach, oesophagus, oral and bladder can be caused by the smoking of shisha.



Cardiovascular diseases.

The amount of toxins that enters the blood during the smoking of shisha is huge; they often cause atherosclerosis; sometimes results in atheroma. These create room for complications like stroke, and angina.

The smoking of shisha can result in the clogging of the arteries and can cause severe heart diseases. It can also drastically reduce the function of the lungs.

The necotine in it can cause a spike in your blood pressure which then pushes the heart to work more than it should. What do you think happens after the heart is pressured?! Heart attack or stroke.



Shisha is a breeding ground for infectious diseases.

The mouthpieces provided for the smoking of shisha are mostly unhygienic. Most people use these mouthpieces especially the ones in the bars and lounges. Herpes, hepatitis, and tuberculosis are among the numerous infectious diseases that can be transmitted through the sharing of shisha.



One thing I have observed is that, most of the people engaged in smoking of shisha have no idea the health risks dangers it poses to them. Some were in it to show off on social media but now they are severely addicted and do not know how to get out of it.

The world health organisation (WHO) has suggested the following initiatives to help decrease the smoking of shisha:

"Providing education to all audiences concerned (including health professionals and the public) about the risks of smoking shisha both to an individual and to the public as second-hand exposure.

Ensuring that the regulations governing cigarettes and other tobacco products also apply to shishas and their related flavored tobacco products.

Labelling shisha products with the appropriate health warnings and prohibiting those which are misleading (i.e. implying safety).

Prohibiting shisha smoking in places with active bans on cigarette and other forms of tobacco smoking."