The Hookah Hookah is a single or multi-stemmed (often When a smoker inhales through the hose, the Myths & Facts about Hookah glass-based) water pipe for . It smoke passes from the heated tobacco through originated in and was introduced to the Hookah body into the water (generating a The popularity of Hookah is increasing. Many during the 17th century. Later, it was adopted by bubbling sound), then goes through the hose and myths minimize the dangerous health risks and the . Hookah is also known into the smoker’s mouth and lungs. associated with it, but the facts are clear. as Argileh, Shisha, Goza, Hubble Bubble and . Hookah smokers believe that it is a safer Nargileh. Hookah tobacco is moist tobacco that comes in a variety of flavors such as apple, cherry, strawberry, alternative to smoking, while The Hookah apparatus is usually made of the and chocolate. The packaging of Hookah tobacco the fact is the chemicals associated with following components: often contains misleading information and lacks are the same in Hookah tobacco proper warning labels. products. The head (Shihadeh and Saleh-2005) a small clay bowl where Hookah is smoked in various settings. It can be The body the moist tobacco is smoked in one’s home, as the Hookah tobacco . The charcoal used for heating Hookah a hollow metal placed inside and heated tobacco releases higher levels of Carbon by a burning charcoal and apparatus are easily accessible. It is also served tube connected Monoxide (CO) than when smoking to the head and above it. The clay head in restaurants or special lounges where it may be submerged in the has holes in the bottom, shared among multiple patrons simultaneously. traditional cigarettes. water inside the allowing smoke to pass bowl. The body into the body’s central . Another myth is that the water inside the seals the opening of conduit. Hookah filters out the harmful substances the water bowl. in the tobacco smoke. In fact, water cools the Hookah tobacco smoke, so that it feels less harsh, prompting deeper inhalations The and longer retention of tobacco-filled water bowl breaths, increasing harm. usually a glass (Shafagoj and Mohammed-2002) bowl filled halfway with . Hookah users believe that the smell, taste, water, in which The hose and smoothness of the sweetened and the body is a flexible, slender submerged. tube that allows causes less irritation The top of the smoke to be to the airways. In fact, this leads to water bowl is sealed drawn from the a sustained period of higher harmful by a gasket attached to top of the water the body. The water cools and bowl. exposure to the toxic substances found in humidifies the smoke coming from Hookah tobacco. the body. Other liquids like fruit juice are sometimes added to the (Knishkowy and Amitai-2005) water or used as a substitute. The Reality of Hookah Hookah use is spreading rapidly. Hookah bars have A smoker can been increasing across the U.S., especially on or The near college campuses. inhale 100x more One study found experimentation with Hookah for 14-year-olds was 23% and rose to 40% for smoke in one 18-year-olds. hookah session Hookah are drawn to the colorful packaging, the false claims of popularity of smoking Hookah, and than in a single appeals to vanity. cigarette. Hookah smoking causes serious harm to the smoker and others exposed to the smoke. These health effects include: (WHO study group on Tobacco product regulation, advisory note-2005) . Lung and oral cancer . Respiratory illnesses . Heart disease . Decreased fertility . Tooth loss In a typical hookah smoking session that lasts 45- 80 minutes, the smoker may inhale as much smoke as a cigarette smoker would inhale consuming 100 or more cigarettes. (WHO) 313-216-2232 As Hookah is often shared in a group, the risk of spreading infectious diseases is increased, despite the use of a disposable mouthpiece, and may put the smoker at risk of contracting infectious diseases Arab American and like: Chaldean Council (ACC) . . C 313-369-4740 . Herpes . H. pylori