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Review
. 2015 Jun;15(3):263-6.
doi: 10.7861/clinmedicine.15-3-263.

A review of the health effects of smoking shisha

Murtaza Kadhum  1 , Abed Sweidan  1 , Ali Emad Jaffery  1 , Adam Al-Saadi  1 , Brendan Madden  2
Affiliations
Review

A review of the health effects of smoking shisha

Murtaza Kadhum et al. Clin Med (Lond). 2015 Jun.

Abstract

There is emerging evidence, although at early stages, of various detrimental health effects after smoking shisha. With regard to the cardiovascular system, there is a significant acute rise in cardiovascular markers, such as heart rate and blood pressure. The long-term effects on the cardiovascular system are yet to be established. Shisha smoking has also been significantly associated with lung cancer. Various other forms of cancer have also been documented, but have not reached statistical significance and require further research. Finally, shisha smoking increases the risk of infection and has been associated with outbreaks in the Middle East. Therefore, with the increasing consumption of shisha in Europe, especially in the UK, more research is required to tackle this potential public health threat.

Keywords: Shisha; cardiorespiratory; hookah; public health; smoking; tobacco.

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Figures

Fig 1.
Fig 1.
The shisha apparatus (left) and a labelled schematic of the main parts (right). Reproduced with permission.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

  • Letters to the editor.
    Buss L, Hurst JR. Buss L, et al. Clin Med (Lond). 2015 Oct;15(5):499. doi: 10.7861/clinmedicine.15-5-499. Clin Med (Lond). 2015. PMID: 26430197 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

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