Hookah bar health risks
With cigarette bans in full force in restaurants, the appeal of a hookah bar gains popularity in younger crowds. Appeal among young people has been increasing since the 1990’s, and more bars are popping up in the United States. Smoking herbal tobacco, called shisha, from at a hookah bar could pose health risks, but is currently the subject of some debate.
Research about the health risks of smoking shisha at hookah bars seems to be lacking, leaving consumers uninformed.
Smoke inhaled from a hookah is believed to be less addictive and toxic than tobacco smoke, but that may not be the case. Smoking fruit flavored tobacco, called shisha, from a hookah is becoming a fad among college students. There is some debate about the potential harm from shisha.
Hookah bars have been popular in the UK, and are spreading across the United States as college age youth seek the ambience of hookah lounges complete with soft cushions and low stools that create an atmosphere of relaxation and increased socialization.
Hookah bars are gaining appeal, but young people should be warned of the potential health risks, at least until more studies are done.
According to a report from the BBC, smoking shisha from a hookah pipe is much more dangerous to health than smoking cigarettes. That notion has been challenged by Dr Kamal Chaouachi, a tobacco expert who teaches at Paris IX University. Chaouachi says there is no research evidence that smoking shisha at hookah bars pose health risks to youth.
Until more studies are done, it may be wise to avoid hookah bars, or at least exercise caution about inhaling too much shisha from a hookah pipe. Though the ambience of a hookah bar is appealing, it is important to know that more research about the health risks of smoking shisha at a hookah bar are needed.
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