Hookah can be much more dangerous than cigarettes, as it can be used to contract the coronavirus, said Marine Ghambaryan, head of the Center for Tobacco Prevention and Control of the National Medical Research Center of Therapy and Preventive Medicine of the Ministry of Health.
The specialist noted that poor processing of hookah flasks increases the risk of spreading not only COVID-19, but also tuberculosis, cholera and other dangerous diseases. The risk is increased even when using disposable mouthpieces.
In addition, hookah smoke is toxic. It contains nicotine, carcinogens, toxins and heavy metals. During the combustion of coal, hazardous substances are released that can cause cardiovascular, bronchopulmonary diseases and the development of cancer of the lungs, mouth, esophagus and stomach.
Ghambaryan noted that when smoking one hookah, people absorb more smoke than when smoking cigarettes.
“It has been proven that for an hour of hookah smoking a person consumes 100-200 times more toxic and carcinogenic substances than for the time of smoking one, even the strongest cigarette. That is why hookah is no safer than cigarettes, and even more dangerous with prolonged smoking, ”the expert said.
Studies have also shown that hookah smokers have high blood pressure, respiratory function and exercise tolerance are impaired, and pneumonia occurs more often.
It is extremely dangerous for pregnant women to smoke hookahs, as it increases the risk of fetal abnormalities.
At the same time, hookah can be addictive as well as cigarettes, because it contains nicotine.
On August 2, the chief physician of the Russian Ministry of Health, Oksana Drapkina, proposed increasing the excise tax on tobacco products. According to her, the world experience and the WHO have established that tax measures are the most effective in the fight against smoking.