Is Hookah Smoking Safer than Cigarette Smoking?

-->Article from MayoClinic on Hookah Smoking<--

The answer--NO! Hookah smoking is no way safer than cigarette smoking! The reason why I researched this topic is because there is a Hookah bar that opened up over the summer back where I live in CT. Unfortunately, many young adults, including myself, have been to this establishment more than once with the preconceived idea that hookah smoking is not as dangerous as cigarette smoking. However, after reading this article I've learned that it is just as bad and if not worse than it's counter-part.


According to the article from MayoClinic, "Hookah smokers may actually inhale more tobacco smoke than cigarette smokers do because of the large volume of smoke they inhale in one smoking session, which can last as long as 60 minutes." Also, hookah smokers inhale more carbon monoxide than cigarette smokers.

The dangerous consequences of hookah smoking include:
-Contains high levels of toxic chemicals such as: carbon monoxide and carcinogens
-Linked to lung and oral cancer
-Delivers the same amount of nicotine as cigarettes and can lead to nicotine dependence
-Hookah smoke poses dangers with secondhand smoke
-Hookah smoking by pregnant women can result in low birth weight babies
-Hookah pipes may not be cleaned properly thus causing a high risk of infectious diseases



Although this sounds like hookah smoking is actually more unhealthy than cigarette smoking, they are BOTH harmful and can defitnitely cause detrimental consequences to your long term health.