The smoky truth on hookahs

For a medical expert your facts are way off base. Lets take a look at the tabacco being used in a Hooka, it is nothing like that being smoked in cigarettes. Think about whole leaf tabacco guess what it does not have the additives that the big tabacco companies put into thier puducts. Also there is not the additive soaked paper that is being burned. The diffrence in smoking tobacco in a hooka is like the diffrence between eating a twinkie and eating a piece of cake that is made with all organic ingredients. Are either one good for you no but one is allot less harmful.

In defense of the good doctor, he did not say that smoking hookah is WORSE than smoking cigarettes. He said it carries some of the same risks, which is very true. Hookahs produce large amounts of smoke. Any smoke, whether from a hookah, cigarette, or housefire, is bad for the lungs.

Also, the tobacco in the hookah is more concentrated than the tobacco in cigarettes, due to the fact that cigarettes replace it with alternative flavor enhancers. So, the hookah has more natural ingredients, as you said. It carries about .5% of the nicotine that cigarettes have and might I say, has a better flavor/aroma.

So, what the doctor is ultimately saying is that the best course of action is to not smoke at all. I'm an avid hookah smoker and enjoy my cigars in moderation, which is how anything that can be potentially harmful to the body–alcohol, smoking, or extreme sports–should be used.

smaseattle, "whole leaf tobacco sans additives" or not, you're still inhaling smoke which contains minute particles of soot and goodness knows what else which can irritate your lungs and become trapped in the alveoli and bronchial passages. You want to smoke a hookah? Go right on ahead. I won't stop you, but keep it out of my lungs, please, as I quit smoking a decade ago and have no desire to have that stuff in my lungs or body ever again.

Oh, I am totally convinced. Hookah is just tobacco with flavor added.
I have been asked the question about its safety on my website in the discussions.

thanks for putting it straight.

James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.
http://www.myfamilydoctormag.com

Every so called "study" I have seen on the effects of hookah have been terribly biased. It’s all common sense here. Smoking anything is not going to be good for you. When it comes to hookah there are a few factors that I would presume, make it less harmful than cigarettes. The tobacco used in shisha does not contain the chemical additives that are found in nearly all cigarettes. When hookah is smoked properly the tobacco does not burn either, at least not like it burns in a cigarette. You are essentially evaporating the glycerin, honey/molasses, and natural flavors soaked into the tobacco. Of course some amount of it is burned.

I'm not sure why the CDC would compare the volume of smoke from a single cigarette to an entire hookah session (which can last 30-60 minutes+). Of course it’s going to be a lot more, no one wants piddly smoke while puffing on a hookah. Besides, most of the hookah smokers I know only smoke 2-3 times a week. My cigarette smoking friends go through packs a week. But again, only the ignorant claim its "healthy". You should get some more intelligent friends. I still have yet to see an honest study on the effects of hookah however. Not like it matters anyways, I choose to smoke; I know there are possible consequences, and there’s not a damn thing anyone can do to stop me.

Ironically, I just went to a hookah lounge today and just came home to read this posting. I was long under the impression that hookah smoke is not as bad for you as cigarrettes, at least this is what I was told by my friends, However, during the session, I had a little difficulty breathing and was surrounded by endless plumes of smoke, I came home and did a little research, and my findings were confirmed by this article. Thanks for the post.

Often coupled with the Hookah Myth is the notion that marijuana smoke is less harmful than tobacco smoke. True or False?

what about the supposed filtering/ cooling affects of a water pipe? Obviously such a large quantity of smoke (one hour's worth) would negate it, but how does the water filter factor in?

I think we've established that inhaling any sort of smoke into your lungs is not exactly healthy be it cigarette, hookah, or camp fire smoke.
However, I will say that in my experience it would seem that hookah smoke is less harmful (not harmless) as I've never had a problem inhaling it, where inhaling a cigarette has always made me want to vomit.

Again, I'm not a medical professional, so I'm just saying what I've gathered from my own experience. For all I know, (scientifically speaking) it could be worse.

Am I understanding this correctly? The hookah is passed from person to person? So this means you are sharing a mouthpiece with people you don't know? Why in the world would you do that? Would you pass the same glass of water from person to person in a restaurant?

No such thing as a safe cigarette. If nicotine were to have never been used and only discovered today, can you imagine the outroar oveer people stuffing a plant in paper and lighting it on fire? There's good reasons why no other plant is stuffed into paper and lit on fire. It's disgusting and dangerous, and yes, it does kill or maim in some way EVERYONE who uses it, eventually, and many who don't. I like to read books. Can you imagine a scenario where my reading would cause not only me to get eye cancer but also the person next to me, too? Books would be INSTANTLY outlawed.

Sincerely, a non-smoker (though not nicotine-free, thanks to smokers and the business of death called the tobacco makers).

Thank you for this insightful post. I enjoy smoking hookah every now and again. I will probably not quit smoking hookah altogether but I will certainly reduce the number of times I do participate.

Thanks, Sanjay, from San Antonio,for your amazing contributions to the LIVESTRONG Summit in Columbus last week. Both my sister and I were attending as delegates and we wanted to let you know how much your input was appreciated. Take good care-

My friends claim that smoking marijuana is not bad for you, and, in some cases, that it is actually good for you. The argument stems from smoking cigarettes, which we all know is harmful. However, for "smoke" to be created, some kind of reaction must take place. I was assured that carbon monoxide is created due to this. Please let me know.

It is hard to believe that anyone can defend any kind of smoking on any ground whatsoever after almost 50 years of scientific research has found and re affirmed time after time basically the same results. Smoking Kills! Defending any kind of smoking is sooo...... 1960's! But when your superhero is the Marlboro Man, Budweiser is your thirst quencher and a twinkie is nourishment, what can you expect. By the way, passing that thing around seems like a good way to pass around a nice staph infection too. Dr G. keep up the good work!

To salutaryblog.com and MCM:

Marijuana smoke is pretty terrible for you. Joints, or unfiltered marijuana cigarettes contain more tar per volume of smoke than the average cigarette. Water pipes ("bongs") that resemble a hookah in concept are actually worse – the water cools and cleans the smoke somewhat, but it also clears out THC (delta-9 tetrahydracannibinol, the primary psychoactive component in marijuana) thus requiring more exposure to get high.

THC in and of itself is not harmful to the lungs (as far as we know). THC actually produces an expectorant effect, and this makes THC useful (for coughing up phlegm, etc) if one can solve the smoke problem. the primary issues with marijuana via smoke inhalation involve CO (carbon monoxide) and other carcinogens produced from direct combustion (applying fire to plant matter) of chlorophyll.

An alternative method of using marijuana (via inhalation) centers around a concept called "aromatic vaporization." THC is a fat soluble aromatic compound that vaporizes around 180 degrees C. Cellulose and chlorophyll burn (combust and produce smoke) at closer to 350 degrees C. A heat source that vaporizes THC and then allows it to be inhaled is called a vaporizer. When marijuana is studied academically, vaporization is the preferred method of inhalation, as it isolates THC and other cannibinoids present in marijuana. Controlling a study is easier this way.

Smoke in general is bad for you – any particulate matter that gets into your lungs is going to cause irritation, and make your lungs work hard to expel said matter. Marijuana smoke has potential therapeutic benefits for some, but it doesn't change the fact that it is still smoke inhalation.

TO AWH

I was with you until last paragraph – then I got confused. Are you saying vaporization does or does not create particulate matter that gets in your lungs?

And, thanks for the education!

Re: Marijuana smoke vs tobacco smoke: Dr. Gupta refers to the standard stats – 7 times more tars in Cannabis than cigarettes. However, there is no real world data to associate this with lung function. In fact, as CNN reported last year, 2 recent studies have shown marijuana smokers not to have an increased rate of lung cancer over the general population.
The answer is two-fold: 1st, as Duffy said in "Sugar Blues", the added sugar in cigarettes (burns faster,tastes better) caramelizes upon burning, trapping the toxins deep in the lungs.
2nd, tobacco is a bronchial constrictor, worsening the effect, while Cannabis (marijuana) is a bronchial dialator and expectorant – the reason our ancestors used it for asthma!
Dr. Gupta can see more objective research on the effects of using Cannabis, including a study of the U.S. government's IND legal Cannabis patients (some recieving it for over 20 years), at http://youtube.com/cannabistherapeutics

Thank you for posting this. I was an enthusiastic hookah smoker my first couple years in college (I'm not out of college yet but have since quit. There was a point at which I was smoking hookah at the local lounge 2-3x per week). No one seems to want to admit that smoking hookah is bad for you, although I had a feeling it probably was when I PASSED OUT from it one night at the lounge. I did and do not have any health conditions such as hypoglycemia to attribute the fainting episode to. When this happened my friend smoking with me at the time was alarmed, only to be reassured by the owners that this happens frequently and to just have me lie down and give me water.

Though people are always arguing whether or not hookah is addictive, I believe it is. There is no doubt it is socially addicting. It was my break from the social aspect that has helped me to quit.

So I guess, as tempting as it is to hang out at a hookah lounge–especially when you aren't 21 yet and have less options for a night out–my advice would be to stay away from the hookah pipe.

What about non-tobacco mixes? I doubt those would do any harm.

So much old information about Cannabis. And when I say old, I mean decades old. Most, upwards of 70 years old. I don't know how anyone who calls themselves a physician would be so neglectful of the CURRENT science, even if the cameras ARE rolling.
Cutting-edge Information about the therapeutic use of Cannabis is, unfortunately, contained in the minds and databases of apparently a very small few. It's time America learns the truth. People's lives hang in the balance. We can’t wait for the news media to get a conscience.

We have a video by Dr. Denis Petro, consulting Neurologist for the Multiple Sclerosis Patients Union that was taken in December of 2003. In it, he talks about his 20 years worth of research on medicinal cannabis and no less than 7 documented clinical studies that demonstrate the medical benefits of cannabis.
Petro, whose research regarding Cannabis spans over 25 years, is frustrated by our government and media's refusal to recognize what other countries the world over already accept for years, Cannabis is real medicine.
"Drug companies only want to do research on something that will bring money down the road." Concluded Petro. Might I add, physicians tied to news agencies appear to be umbilically tied to pharmaceutical company propaganda. Seems all they can spew are half-truths and out-right lies.
I have personally interviewed hundreds from all over this country who use "smoked" cannabis medicinally. Some for as much as 45 years. I currently have over 70 interviews on YouTube and the numbers are growing daily. Please feel free to watch them. Their stories are real and first person. http://www.youtube.com/cannabispatientnet

Yes, smoking cannabis can irritate the lungs. Let's clarify, "irritate". God, how I hate half-truths...and it seems, CNN's medical advisers are full of them!
Any medicine that irritates lung tissue can be dangerous for someone whose respiratory system is already compromised. But, if you remove or dramatically reduce the irritant(s), the end product can not only be safe, it can provide freedom from pain and help the body to heal and fight disease. Stop throwing out the baby with the bath water!
Vaporization of Cannabis has been endorsed by physicians the world over, as well as the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. They consider Cannabis to be so important that they maintain a twenty person task force, made up of distinguished Dr’s, RN’s, MD’s, and PHD’s.
Other organizations that have recognized Cannabis as medicine include the American College of Physicians, the second largest physician organization in the country, and the Medical Student Section of the American Medical Association, a branch of the largest medical association in the country. The AMA will vote on endorsing Cannabis in November.
To the best of my knowledge, that pretty much takes in ALL physicians in this country.

For more REAL information and Testimonies from REAL people, check out these sites.
http://www.cannabistv.net and http://www.cannabispatient.net . Many, many more great sites out there. It’s not that hard to find the truth.

“First, do no harm”, Doctor. When you suppress or subvert vitally important information from the chronically ill, you harm them.

Mark Pedersen
Cannabis Patient Network

Smoking, regardless of the substance, is still smoking. I watched my mother go from a vibrant woman who loved life (and her cigarette addiction) to a shrivelled woman who had to have oxygen forced into her lungs with a Bi-Pap before she died of end stage emphysema, weighing about 70 pounds. Most people think this will never happen to them, and I'm sure my mom did, too. She was 67 years old. It was a horrible way to die – gasping for breath amid the panic attacks. The doctor told her she had no lungs left.

At her visitation, one of her friends told me that they had urged my mom to quit, but she told them she "loved the taste." She had even told my mother-in-law at my wedding that she would "rather die than quit smoking." She got her wish.

In my opinion, smoking is never healthy, regardless of what it is one is smoking.

My fiance has been smoking hookah constantly (all day, every day) for the past 10 years and his doctors can't even tell that he smokes. I, on the other hand, smoked cigarettes for only 6 years and my doctors could tell that my lungs were being affected and I had bronchitis. After quitting cigarettes and switching to hookah, my bronchitis has gone away. I have been smoking only hookah for the past 2 years and it has been wonderful – much, MUCH more enjoyable than cigarette smoking.

On a second note, my birth father has always had an issue with his lungs making him unable to fully inhale smoke from any smoking device (cigarettes, cigars) EXCEPT for the hookah. It does not irritate his lungs at all, and it is the only thing he can fully inhale. Also, it's really fun to make your own tobacco and experiment with flavors.

I must say I have yet to see a "real" study done on hookah. Whatever. I love it, my family loves it, and it's super fun and relatively harmless!

To clarify: vaporization of any substance involves pushing heated air through that substance to remove the active compounds without actually burning the substance. A vaporizer (Such as the Volcano) can't ignite plant matter. The heating element doesn't get hot enough. Vaporization doesn't involve inhalation of particulate matter. What you inhale is more like a very fine mist. This mist is actually an air/oil emulsion of the THC and other aromatic cannibinoids in marijuana, though it looks somewhat similar to smoke.

The Hookah is a pleasant experience. Most popular in Turkey and the middle east–the tobacco "turds" made for the hookah–are not contaminated with the dozens of chemicals American cigarette companies put in their tobaccos to addict U.S. smokers. It's pure tobacco. The smoke doesn't make you cough..and hookah smokers generally smoke in Chai houses and bars–so they traditionally do not smoke (nor inhale) as much as the typical American cigarette smoker.

My point of view–for those who must continue smoking–get turkish tobacco–and use the hookah...as much of the tar (#1 cause of lung cilia damage) is removed in the water–providing a pleasurible and probably a little healthier smoke.

According to a study done by multiple researchers (Dr. Eisenberg in Virginia, and 3 other researchers in Lebanon and Syria), the hookah smoke was analyzed during a 45 minute session of smoking 10g of fruit flavored tobacco, using 17 second long puffs, 30 seconds apart. The amount of nicotene that survived the water filtering and made it to the mouth piece WAS EQUAL TO A PACK OF CIGARETTES (quantity of 20 , 1g cigarettes )!! The amount of carbon monoxide (CO) detected was equal to 16 packs of cigarettes. The reason for high carbon monoxide content is due to the fact that we have incomplete conbustion in hookah : The charcoal is separated from the tobacco via the aluminum foil. The high CO is the reason why we feel dizzy if we dont breathe enough between puffs: minimizing oxygen getting to our brain.

Also trails of Aluminum was found in the water, suggesting the presence of Aluminum compounds in the smoke. Aluminum compounds can cause Alzheimers in a long run.

The only 2 positive thing about the hookah smoke (vs cigarette smoke) is the absence of TAR, since there is no full combustion in hookah, and the absence of paper. But the 4900 metal compounds that our lung doesnt know how to get rid of, is common between the two.

I smoke hookah once a week, but just wanted to share this info with people who smoke hookah so they are aware ..

Is there thc in the hookah tobacco?

I think this whole discussion is ridiculous. I honestly can not believe that Americans have all these resources to get educated about a subject and still post very uneducated statements about something as simple as smoke. It\'s actually very simple! Any kind of smoke going into your lungs, whether it\'s cigarettes,hookah,weed etc is BAD for you. The human body\'s lungs are not meant to hold anything but oxygen, and honeslty even that is not completely true because the body can not hold oxygen for long periods of time(hence unless you\'re super human you probably can\'t hold your breath for very long). All I\'m really trying to say is you know the facts already SMOKE IS BAD so if you choose to do it don\'t be surprise if you suffer the consequences later in life!

well its my first time to heard that hooka. its good to know about this. The point here is that people should do a research before trying to use that hooka. Why just use vaporizer? it is safer than smoking.

you say it right in the article, "don't believe everything you hear." I find it hard to believe that you can smoke two hundred cigarettes in an hour = 3 1/3 per minute even smoking nonstop(meaning hookah smoke must be more potent somehow which is hard to believe as well), you give no research to back up your finding, and you are a running health nut who is obviously death to smoking. Reasons one two and three I don't believe this article to a "T". I'm not a moron I know that smoking anything is bad for you but I think you went a little over the top here. I look forward to any rebuttal you choose to send my way.
Gregg