bintangbriquettes.com – Shisha, also known as hookah or waterpipe smoking, has a long history embedded in various cultures, especially across the Middle East, South Asia, and parts of Africa. People often gather around the shisha pipe in social settings, claiming it brings numerous benefits—ranging from stress relief to cultural connection. However, despite its popularity and perceived advantages, science provides crucial insights into what shisha truly does to the human body. This article dives deep into 20 common reasons people believe shisha is beneficial and contrasts those claims with scientific evidence.
1. Shisha Helps Reduce Stress and Anxiety 20 Reasons People Say Shisha Is Beneficial
What people say: Many users report that smoking shisha calms their nerves, eases tension, and provides a soothing effect after a long day. They describe a feeling of relaxation that helps them unwind mentally and emotionally.
What science says: While nicotine, a major component of shisha tobacco, can cause short-term feelings of pleasure and mild stimulation by releasing dopamine, it also raises heart rate and blood pressure, which can increase stress physiologically. Moreover, the toxins in shisha smoke, including carbon monoxide and heavy metals, can negatively affect brain function over time. Thus, the perceived relaxation may come more from the social setting and ritual rather than a true calming effect on the nervous system.
2. Shisha Is a Social Activity That Strengthens Friendships
What people say: Smoking shisha is often described as a communal event where friends and family bond, share stories, and build connections, fostering emotional intimacy and a sense of belonging.
What science says: Socializing itself promotes psychological well-being and reduces feelings of loneliness, which benefits mental health. However, sharing a shisha pipe can expose individuals to harmful secondhand smoke and increase the risk of infectious diseases. So while the social benefits are real, the health risks from smoke exposure should not be ignored.
3. Water Filtration Makes Shisha Smoke Safer Than Cigarettes
What people say: The smoke passing through water is thought to be purified, filtering out toxins and making the smoke cooler and less harmful.
What science says: The water filter mainly cools the smoke and removes some large particles, but it does not effectively filter out toxic gases like carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, heavy metals, and carcinogenic compounds. Scientific studies confirm that shisha smoke still contains hazardous substances at levels comparable to or higher than cigarette smoke.
4. Shisha Contains Less Nicotine Than Cigarettes
What people say: Some people believe that shisha has a lower nicotine content per puff, making it less addictive and harmful than cigarettes.
What science says: In reality, a typical shisha session lasts much longer than smoking a cigarette and involves inhaling a much larger volume of smoke. Research shows that a one-hour shisha session can expose a user to nicotine amounts equivalent to smoking 100 or more cigarettes, creating a high risk of nicotine dependence.
5. Flavored Tobacco Makes Shisha Less Harmful
What people say: The sweet and fruity flavors mask the harshness of tobacco, giving the impression that shisha is a gentler, safer form of smoking.
What science says: The flavorings used in shisha tobacco are often chemical additives that, when burned, produce harmful compounds such as aldehydes and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These substances contribute to respiratory irritation and increase the risk of long-term health issues despite the pleasant taste.
6. Shisha Smoking Improves Focus and Alertness
What people say: Users often report enhanced concentration and alertness after smoking shisha, attributing it to the stimulating effects of nicotine.
What science says: Nicotine is a stimulant and can temporarily improve attention and cognitive performance. However, repeated exposure leads to tolerance, addiction, and withdrawal symptoms that impair brain function. Over time, chronic nicotine use is linked with cognitive decline and mental health problems.
7. Shisha Is Less Addictive Than Cigarettes
What people say: Because shisha is smoked less frequently and in social contexts, it is perceived as less habit-forming compared to regular cigarette smoking.
What science says: Nicotine delivered through shisha is just as addictive as that from cigarettes. The long duration of each shisha session results in significant nicotine absorption, fostering dependence. Many users underestimate the addictive potential due to the less frequent but intense exposure.
8. Shisha Helps Control Weight by Suppressing Appetite
What people say: Nicotine’s appetite-suppressing qualities are thought to aid in controlling hunger and managing weight.
What science says: Nicotine can indeed reduce appetite in the short term, but the health risks — including cardiovascular damage, lung disease, and cancer — vastly outweigh this minor benefit. Additionally, nicotine addiction itself causes metabolic disturbances and is not a safe or effective weight control method.
9. Shisha Preserves Cultural Identity and Tradition
What people say: Shisha smoking is deeply embedded in cultural rituals and traditions, serving as a symbol of heritage and communal identity.
What science says: The cultural and traditional significance of shisha is important to acknowledge. However, public health initiatives stress the need to balance cultural practices with modern knowledge about health risks to encourage safer alternatives and harm reduction.
10. Shisha Alleviates Asthma Symptoms
What people say: Some users believe the warm, moist smoke soothes their respiratory passages and eases asthma symptoms.
What science says: Medical research strongly contradicts this belief. Smoke from any burning substance irritates and inflames airways, worsening asthma and other respiratory diseases. Shisha use in asthma patients is linked to increased frequency and severity of attacks.
11. Shisha Is a Safer Alternative to Alcohol for Relaxation
What people say: Some argue that shisha provides a safer way to relax socially compared to alcohol consumption, which has well-known risks.
What science says: While alcohol has its own risks including liver damage and addiction, shisha smoking carries substantial risks for lung, heart, and cancer diseases. Neither substance is risk-free, and both can cause significant harm when abused.
12. Shisha Smoke Contains Antioxidants from Fruit Flavors
What people say: The use of fruit and herbal additives supposedly enriches shisha smoke with antioxidants that neutralize harmful free radicals.
What science says: Although fruit and herbal additives contain antioxidants, these compounds are largely destroyed during combustion. The resulting smoke contains far more harmful chemicals than beneficial antioxidants, negating any protective effects.
13. Shisha Is Less Harmful Because It’s Smoked Less Frequently
What people say: Occasional shisha use is believed to carry fewer health risks than daily cigarette smoking.
What science says: Even infrequent shisha sessions expose the user to toxic chemicals and carcinogens. The intensity of exposure during each session is often much higher than cigarettes, meaning even occasional use carries serious health risks.
14. Shisha Sessions Promote Meditation and Mindfulness
What people say: The ritualistic and slow-paced nature of shisha smoking is thought to encourage mindfulness and relaxation.
What science says: While the calming environment and focused attention during sessions may promote relaxation, the health dangers of inhaling smoke remain unchanged. Mindfulness can be better achieved through smoke-free practices such as meditation and breathing exercises.
15. Shisha Helps People Quit Cigarettes
What people say: Some smokers switch to shisha believing it to be a safer alternative or a step towards quitting cigarettes.
What science says: There is no scientific evidence supporting shisha as an effective smoking cessation tool. In fact, it may perpetuate nicotine addiction and expose users to additional health hazards.
16. Shisha Smoke Is Less Irritating to the Throat and Lungs
What people say: The cooled smoke feels smoother and less harsh than cigarette smoke, leading to a belief it is less harmful.
What science says: The cooling effect is mainly due to the water filtration and moisture, but the smoke still contains numerous irritants and toxins that damage the respiratory system, causing chronic bronchitis, cough, and reduced lung function.
17. Shisha Has a Lower Cancer Risk Than Cigarettes
What people say: Some believe that smoking shisha poses a smaller risk of developing cancer compared to cigarette smoking.
What science says: Extensive research indicates that shisha smokers have increased risks of lung, oral, and bladder cancers comparable to cigarette smokers. The prolonged exposure to carcinogens in shisha smoke significantly elevates cancer risk.
18. Shisha Enhances Creativity and Social Conversation
What people say: Users often report that shisha stimulates creative thinking and livelier social conversations.
What science says: While social interactions can foster creativity, the stimulant effect of nicotine is temporary and overshadowed by its addictive potential and health risks. The benefits come from the environment, not the smoke itself.
19. Shisha Smoking Is a Controlled Indulgence Without Heavy Consequences
What people say: Many users view shisha as an occasional indulgence that doesn’t carry the same risks as regular smoking.
What science says: Even occasional use exposes users to dangerous toxins and carcinogens. The cumulative effect of intermittent shisha sessions contributes to serious health problems over time.
20. Shisha Is a Cleaner Way to Consume Tobacco
What people say: The waterpipe method is perceived as a more natural, less polluting, and cleaner way of smoking tobacco.
What science says: No tobacco consumption method is safe. The combustion process produces harmful substances regardless of delivery method. Shisha smoke contains numerous toxic compounds detrimental to respiratory and cardiovascular health.
Final Thoughts 20 Reasons People Say Shisha Is Beneficial
The 20 Reasons People Say Shisha Is Beneficial perception that shisha is a harmless or even beneficial pastime is widespread but largely unsupported by scientific evidence. While the social and cultural aspects of shisha smoking are undeniable and meaningful, the health risks are substantial and well-documented. Individuals should approach shisha use with full awareness of these risks and consider safer alternatives for relaxation and social connection.