Nowadays, many people left conventional cigarettes since they are considered to increase the risk of cancer and heart disease if consumed in the long term. To replace the conventional cigarette, many e-cigarettes or shisha products are sold in the market, since these products are considered safer to be consumed by smokers. However, did you know that in fact, e-cigarettes (vape) or shisha (hookah) may cause similar side effects as conventional cigarettes, even more dangerous?
According to the results of research presented in the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Scientific Sessions 2018, the researchers found out that shisha may cause harm to the human heart. Moreover, the researchers explained that the level of carbon dioxide in the body of a person who used shisha (charcoal-heated) was ten times higher compared to those who consumed conventional cigarettes or electronic shisha. This is caused by the combustion process of charcoal briquette, which produces more carbon dioxide compared to other types of cigarettes.
In the research, the researchers observed 30 young participants (shisha users) with an average age of 26 years old. Before and after the smoking session, the participants went through several tests to observe the level of nicotine in their blood, carbon monoxide level, and flow-mediated dilation (FMD). In this research, there were three groups, and each of the group went through a different smoking session. One group used shisha (charcoal-heated), another group used electronic shisha, and the last group used conventional cigarettes.
The results showed that the three groups showed an increase in the level of nicotine in their blood. Also, the researchers found that the FMD in the participants using charcoal- heated shisha was bigger compared to those who used electronic shisha and conventional cigarettes. FMD is an image of the function of arterial endothelium in which the blood vessel dilates when the blood flow increases. The low rate of FMD indicates endothelial dysfunction. Experts speculated that despite the high level of blood vessel dilation found in charcoal- heated shisha users, the high level of carbon monoxide from the combustion process of briquette might damage the endothelial function.
Text by Anggie Triana
Stock photos from Image Google Search
Source(s):
- American Heart Association - Blood vessel function takes harmful hit from hookah tobacco smoking (2018). https://newsroom.heart.org/news/blood-vessel-function-takes-harmful-hit-from-hookah-tobacco-smoking?preview=cf16, November 26, 2018.
- Medical News Today - What hookah smoking can do to your blood vessels (2018). https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323579.php, November 26, 2018.