WATER PIPES VS CIGARETTE SMOKING

WATER PIPES SMOKING VS. CIGARETTE SMOKING

Recent studies in the Harm Reduction Journal showed the Hookah water pipe smokers have low levels of carinoembryonic antigens, CEA.  They imply it might be a solution for heavy cigarette smokers.

 Those who smoked the hookah, and no cigarettes, bits, etc. had an equivalent of 60 cigarettes each day. The authors found the overall cancer antigen levels were not different from the levels of non-smokers and moderate smokers.  However, the heavy smokers of the pipe had significantly high levels of the cancer antigen.

They claim that low nitrosamine smokeless tobacco could be an alternative for heavy cigarette smokers and suggest even low quality moist snuff called naswar could be helpful.

         Source: Harm Reduction Journal 5.24.08

MEDICAL COMMENTARY

 Beware of  the implication of such research.  According to the World Health Organization, the water in the hookah does not filter out all the “ bad stuff”.  The user is still exposed to 150% the volume of smoke inhaled from one cigarette.

 Tobacco smoke still contains high levels of toxic compounds including carbon monoxide, heavy metals, and yes carcinogens.  A significant amount of addictive nicotine is still inhaled.  The tobacco is no less toxic and more smoke is inhaled because of the massive volume of smoke inhaled.

 Naswar is a snuff from the Middle East that is chewed, nasty, and very addictive also.  Your dental bills will also skyrocket.

 Switching from one poison to another is not the answer.  Stop the nicotine habit.  Consider medical acupuncture to quit.  For information on quitting with acupuncture, visit www.drneedles.com

Your comments always appreciated.