Hookah smoking posts on social media promote the habit, here's how | aptitude



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While scrolling through social media, you may have encountered messages with hashtags, such as #hookah or #sheesha. These messages serve to describe the use of the narghile in an extremely positive way, despite its serious health risks, suggests a new study.

A team of researchers from Florida International University, the University of Wisconsin, the University of Miami, the Syrian Center for Tobacco Studies and the University of Pittsburgh has selected 279 posts from 11,517 messages tagged Sheesha in a period of four days. The findings, published in the journal Health Education and Behavior, suggest that such representation and promotion of the hookah can standardize its use and pose public health problems.

This comes at a time when there is more and more connection between narghile and nicotine addiction as well as smoking-related diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease and respiratory diseases.

The study found that 99.6% of the messages indicated positive feelings toward the use of the hookah, and that only one post (0.4%) mentioned its negative effects on the health. The researchers also found that 10% of all messages used the #HookahAddiction hashtag, signaling that nicotine addiction is not perceived as a health risk that would discourage potential users, but that it is ironically described as "insignia of honor"

. Hookah smoke also contains the same carcinogenic particles found in second-hand smoke and 100 times more lead than in regular cigarettes.
(Shutterstock)

Here are some other common myths about smoking, as explained by Snehal Singh, Senior Consultant in Wellness and Life Management at Healthians, and Sargam Dhawan, Director of Planet Herbs Lifesciences, list the main myths. About the hookah:

* Myth: The narghile is not as dangerous as the cigarette.

While narghile smoke is cooled in water and filtered, its smoke contains significant amounts of the same harmful chemicals. It also produces toxic gases such as carbon monoxide and carcinogenic chemicals that can increase the risk of cancer and heart problems. Hookah smoke also contains the same carcinogenic particles found in second-hand smoke and 100 times the amount of lead as in regular cigarettes.

* Myth: The narghile does not create an addiction as a cigarette.

Inhalation of tobacco, which contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive substance and smoking narghile can be as addictive as smoking cigarettes.

* Myth: Smoking narghile does not affect others

Smoking hookah releases second-hand smoke that can affect others. It releases fine particles in the air, which are harmful to those sitting around. Even in the case of hookahs other than tobacco, the toxic content in smoke is the same as in tobacco products.

(With IANS entries)

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