The sweet scent of shisha often fills the air at the capital’s most popular haunts, but are there hidden dangers to your health? Caitlyn Davey waded through the smoke of the city’s cafes to find out more.
Considering that inhaling shisha for one hour is the equivalent of smoking between 100 and 200 cigarettes, can be up to 36 times as carcinogenic as smoking cigarettes, and contains ten to 15 times more carbon monoxide, it’s pretty clear that it is not just the pleasant social experience that some perceive it to be. Now the nation is moving towards a healthier future, laws are being implemented to reduce the number of cigarette smokers and people are gradually being made more aware of health ramifications of that particular habit– but this movement is not as ardent when the campaign comes to smoking shisha.
New laws are being implemented for cafés in line with the UAE’s move to reduce health risks associated with smoking tobacco products, so now seems like the perfect time to lift the lid on the what you are doing to your body every time you put that shisha pipe to your lips.
We spoke to Burjeel Hospital’s respiratory specialist, Dr Bodi Saicharan about smoking shisha and how it can affect the body.
Why do you think smoking shisha is so prevalent here in Abu Dhabi?
The problem is, it’s all starting at a very young age, usually 13-15 years old is when people start smoking, which is high school age. This usually happens in a social setting so it’s easy for people to join in. We know that the earlier you start smoking, the more difficult it is to give up.
Do you see many patients with shisha-related medical problems?
Of course, being a specialist in respiratory medicine, I see a lot of patients who smoke coming to me with respiratory problems. At least 15 to 20 percent admit to smoking shisha.
People seem to associate the pleasant smell as less harmful to their health.
Yes, and that is a misconception. Also, since shisha is mixed with water and comes through a pipe, people think that it is safer and that it is not as strong. But that is not the case.
What are some of the effects of smoking shisha on the body?
The most common effects of smoking occur in the lungs, the heart, the brain and the blood vessels. The effect on the lungs includes developing a chronic obstructive lung disease – also known as smokers’ lung, which is very typical for people who have been smoking for a long time. Of course, there is cancer of the lungs, stomach, food pipe, kidney, urinary bladder and other cancers related to smoking that can be a direct result of smoking shisha as well. There is a growing number of heart attacks in people whose age falls between 30 and 40 who smoke. The brain is affected as well. Smoking causes hardening of arteries, which impairs smooth blood circulation, thus heightening the possibility of a stroke. This is true for all smoking types. It can even lead to respiratory infections such as tuberculosis. Shisha is tobacco just like cigarettes so the affects it has on the body are the same.
Dr Bodi Saicharan is a specialist in the respiratory department at Burjeel Hospital, Al Najda Street, www.burjeel.com (02 508 5555).
Quit smoking tips from Dr Bodi
1 Shisha generally begins as a social event, which can develop into something more addictive. Dr Bodi says, ‘My clients say they smoke because they want to share an activity with friends, or they want to relax with a group of people. The fact is, they may start with that but, because of the stresses of life, they end up using smoking for stress-relief. These people need to direct their attention to alterative stress relief methods, which can them help them quit.’
2 Get active. ‘Living a physical lifestyle will not only replace the bad behaviour but also helps cells regenerate. You will feel less dependent on the process of smoking, there are so many good things in life to enjoy!’
3 Keep motivated. ‘If you have people around you like your family supporting you, trying to give up is going to be a lot more effective. But that motivation needs to come from within, and then people like me are here to help.’
Get help with giving up
It’s recommended that you see a doctor or specialist to help you kick your habit. Here are some useful resources.
Clinics
Sheikh Khalifa Medical City offers smoking cessation programmes in their Smoking Clinic.
Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Kharama Street (02 610 4000). Al Ain Hospital also has a Smokers Cessation Clinic. Al Ain Hospital (03 763 9339).
Hypnosis
Try something different with this technique, which is reputed to help reduce cravings.
The Well-Being Zone, www.thewell-beingzone.com (050 445 7370).
