Water pipe smoking also known as Shisha, – is a way of smoking tobacco, sometimes mixed with fruit or molasses sugar, through a bowl and hose or tube. The tube ends in a mouthpiece from which the smoker inhales the smoke from the substances being burnt, into their lungs. Despite the many perils of shisha smoking, shisha is gaining popularity among the youth, which is a cause of great concern.

One of the main reasons for a drastic increase in Shisha consumption is that people have a false assumption that Shisha is environmental friendly and is less harmful than cigarette whereas in a research it has been proven that Shisha is far more dangerous for one’s health as compare to cigarette The reasons accredited to this trend are various misconceptions, that water pipe smoking is not hazardous to health because the tobacco is filtered through water before inhalation but the smoke that comes out also contains hundreds of potentially dangerous substances including carbon monoxide, charcoal, nicotine, arsenic, cobalt, chromium and lead causing disorders including lung and bladder cancers, impaired pulmonary functions, coronary heart disease, infertility, tobacco dependence and so on. its popularity is its social acceptability as compared to cigarettes and its portrayal is a symbol of modernization of our cultural heritage.

In addition, water pipe smokers might absorb higher concentrations of these toxic substances because of higher concentrations in the smoke itself, or because they may smoke for several hours at a time and may inhale the moisturized, less irritating smoke more deeply. An hour-long `Shisha` session involves inhaling 100 to 200 times the amount of volume of smoke inhaled when smoking a cigarette. A common misconception fuelling this epidemic is the belief that shisha use is not addictive or injurious to health because the water used in the pipe absorbs nicotine.

The reality however is in stark contrast to this.

Shisha smokers are exposed to enough nicotine to develop an addiction because only some nicotine is absorbed by water. However, water pipe smoking carries three additional health risks over cigarette smoking. Firstly, the coal over which shisha is smoked adds to the already long list of toxins present in tobacco. Secondly, a single shisha session results in the smoker inhaling up to 200 times more smoke than cigarette smokers.

Thirdly, the rates of second-hand smoking associated with shisha are high due to its high social acceptance. It was evaluated that the practice of sharing a water-pipe mouth piece poses a serious risk of transmission of communicable diseases including Tuberculosis and Hepatitis. Lack of knowledge is the main problem, be abreast of the health threats of this new trend of tobacco smoking which is causing diseases, addiction and death can be prevented. In the meantime, not starting to smoke is the best form of prevention.

This menace of Shisha Smoking is fast spreading among our young generations in schools and social events in the communities in Ghana. Shisha addiction has increased in the form of fashion. In fact, every day new Shisha cafes are opening up in the country because of its increasing demand by the younger generation which is further pushing the youth towards the use of this menace. Nowadays it is becoming a major part of any festival, wedding ceremony, birthday party or any private party. Shisha has indeed become an addiction.

The reasons for this rising trend are certain misconceptions that water pipe smoking is not hazardous to health, since the tobacco is filtered through water with an addition of fruit flavours before inhalation makes its socially acceptable and a symbol of modern lifestyle as compared to cigarettes. Another reasons for this drastic increase in Shisha consumption is that people have a false assumption that Shisha is environmental friendly and is less harmful than cigarette whereas in a research it has been proven that Shisha is far more dangerous for one’s health as compare to cigarette.

By smoking Shisha one inhales more carbon monoxide as compare to inhaling of cigarettes, which cause heart diseases, causes lung cancer, respiratory problems, mental health problems. Shisha is just as, if not more, harmful than normal cigarettes. Headaches, blurred vision, palpitations and dizziness are just some of the symptoms reported by Shisha smokers as well as cigarette smokers.

A common misconception fuelling this epidemic is the belief that shisha use is not addictive or injurious to health because the water used in the pipe absorbs nicotine. The reality however is in stark contrast to this. Shisha smokers are exposed to enough nicotine to develop an addiction because only some nicotine is absorbed by water. However, water pipe smoking carries three additional health risks over cigarette smoking. Firstly, the coal over which shisha is smoked adds to the already long list of toxins present in tobacco.

Secondly, a single shisha session results in the smoker inhaling up to 200 times more smoke than cigarette smokers. Thirdly, the rates of second-hand smoking associated with shisha are high due to its high social acceptance.

The most important step in curbing the spread of shisha smoking is to reduce its social acceptance and make people aware about shisha being even more hazardous than cigarette smoking. In the meantime, not starting to smoke is the best form of prevention. Talk to your kids about the threat of smoking. With your guidance, maybe they won’t light up.