Hookah

Hookahs are water pipes that are used to smoke specially made tobacco that comes in a variety of flavors, such as chocolate and cherry. The tobacco is indirectly heated with charcoal or wood embers. Hookah is also known as narghile, argileh, shisha, sheesha, goza, and hubbly-bubbly.

Health Risks¹

• Many hookah users think it is less harmful than smoking cigarettes. However, hookah smoking carries the same or similar health  effects as smoking cigarettes and exposure to secondhand smoke: cancer, heart disease,  respiratory disease, and infertility.
• Hookah smokers inhale as much smoke during a typical hookah session as a cigarette smoker would inhale by consuming 100-200 cigarettes.
• Infections, like tuberculosis, hepatitis, and meningitis, may be passed to others by sharing a hookah.
• The method used to burn the tobacco (charcoal wood cinders) also poses a health risk because carbon monoxide and heavy metals are released. This method increases the risk for carbon monoxide poisoning and fire.

When you are ready to quit hookah, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW or visit: www.nevadatobaccoquitline.com

References

^{1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Smoking and Tobacco Use: Hookah Fact Sheet.}