Shisha Video

Is what you hear really what you get? How much do you really know about Shisha smoking?

Our YAH members went down Kampong Glam and asked one of the shops about Shisha. And here is what they have to say.

Here are some information about Shisha smoking.

Myths about Shisha Smoking

Shisha (also known as hookah, nargile, and goza) is a water pipe used to smoke flavoured tobacco via water filtration and indirect heat. Though it originated from Middle Eastern and East Mediterranean countries, shisha smoking is now widespread throughout the world.

Myth:

“Shisha smoking is less harmful than cigarette smoking because it is mostly just flavoured ‘steam’, like water vapour.”

Fact:

Shisha smoke is not “just steam”, the tobacco in the molasses is humidified by the water to produce a steam-like plume of smoke upon exhalation. It is estimated that 45 minutes of shisha smoking is equivalent to smoking NINE cigarettes, and it causes the smoker to be exposed to a higher level of harmful toxicants such as nicotine and carbon monoxide.

Myth:

“Shisha molasses have little or no nicotine, and water filters out most of the ‘harmful substances’ anyway.”

Fact:

Nicotine is present in the shisha molasses. The water does absorb some of the nicotine, but most of it passes through and is absorbed by the smoker, into his bloodstream. It has been reported that carbon monoxide levels of one session of shisha smoking were at least four to five times higher than the amount produced by smoking one cigarette.

Myth:

“Shisha smoking does not irritate my throat, therefore it is not harmful to the respiratory tract.”

Fact:

Water in the pipe moistens the smoke, which makes it less irritating to the throat. The tasty and palatable flavours that the shisha tobacco is mixed with also mask the fact that the smoker is inhaling many different toxic compounds, carcinogens and traces of heavy metals.

Myth:

“I know cigarettes are addictive, but I will not get addicted to shisha.”

Fact:

What makes cigarettes highly addictive is nicotine, which is also present in shisha tobacco. Shisha smokers have been shown to receive similar or even higher doses of nicotine, and reportedly suffer from many, if not all, of the indications of nicotine dependence.