Shisha Experience

I am not a smoker. Although I tried smoking during my high school years because of peer pressure, my body reacted negatively, which made me realize that smoking is not good for me. Since then, I have tried to avoid cigarette smoke and stay away from smokers.

My nose has become very sensitive, so I always make sure that if I go inside a disco bar, there is a designated non-smoking area. I find it difficult to breathe in a room filled with smoke because I am allergic to it.

However, there is a type of smoking that made me appreciate the smell of its smoke. It was introduced to me by an Arab friend last year, and I was surprised to see that it comes in a different form. It is called shisha or hookah, and its common English term is “hubbly-bubbly.” Unlike a cigarette, it is a single-stemmed water pipe that works through water filtration and indirect heat. The smell of the smoke also varies depending on the fruit flavor used. Apple, strawberry, and grape flavors are my favorites because the smoke’s scent is not irritating to my nose.

My curiosity eventually led me to try shisha, and I discovered that I actually liked it. It can be addictive for me, but I wanted to learn first about the health risks of shisha smoking, so I immediately conducted some research. To my surprise, shisha smoking can be more harmful than cigarette smoking.

According to the website of Action on Smoking and Health, shisha water pipes carry three major health risks. First, the use of coals and combustion fumes introduces additional toxins into the already harmful smoke. Second, shisha smokers may inhale up to 200 times more smoke during a single shisha session compared to smoking a cigarette. Lastly, secondhand smoke from shisha can be more dangerous than cigarette smoke. The article also states that shisha smoke contains chemicals that may contribute to heart disease and cancer.

Hmm… I do not know what else to say, so I will end this blog about shisha here. LOL.