We all know that cigarette smoking is injurious to health. It not only affects the respiratory system of the body damaging the lungs and the wind pipe but also damages the central nervous system (brain by getting it addicted to nicotine) and even the cardiovascular system by tightening the flow of blood in the vessels and increasing the risk of a stroke. Apart from this smoking also increases the risk of mouth, throat, larynx, esophagus, and pancreatic cancer, which in turn increases the risk of developing type-2 diabetes in smokers. To add to the long list of negative impacts, smoking also increases the risk of squamous cell carcinoma (which is a form of skin cancer) in smokers.
To highlight the risk of smoking, manufacturers around the globe carry a warning on the cigarette packet which states– “Smoking causes throat cancer“.
Delhi smoking
Even amid the heightened awareness about the hazardous impact of smoking, it’s difficult for a smoker to quit smoking once it has reached the point of becoming a habit. However, in order to restrict the harmful impacts of smoking, people have found alternatives that ‘balance’ out the addiction with things that are less harmful.
hookah and vaporiser are two of the most commonly used alternatives to smoking. But are they really safe?
Hukka (Photo: Public Domain Pictures)
For those of you who are new to the terminology, hookah or Shisha essentially uses flavoured tobacco which is delivered through a water pipe. It’s is commonly available at the bars and cafe and is extremely popular among the youth. While it is ‘considered’ to be less hazardous, the health impacts are the same. In fact, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), hookah smokers may absorb a higher amount of toxins due to frequency and length of a smoking session.
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Here are the negative impacts of smoking hookah:
– Hookah smokers stand at a greater risk of developing oral and lung cancers.
– Hookah contains numerous chemicals that can clog arteries and cause a stroke.
– Hookah smokers also stand at the risk of developing periodontal (gum tissue) disease.
– It can cause low birth weight in babies.
Vaporiser (Photo: Pixabay)
Vaporizer or Vaps are a less harmful substitute to smoking. Vaps have three major components– a base, nicotine and a flavour. While the device does use nicotine, the amount is far less than used in a cigarette or a Hookah. While there have been limited studies about the impact of using vaps, none of them suggest that it causes cancer. More importantly, all the impacts disappear within a short time.
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Here are the negative impacts of using vaporizer:
– Dry mouth
– Headache and dizziness
– Tongue inflammation
– Sleepiness
– Allergies
– Breathing problems
Smoking in any form is injurious to health and one should abstain from all such practices to enjoy a healthy and a long life.
Choose wisely and live well!
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