Rise in 'shisha bars' prompts health warning on dangers of waterpipe smoking

THE British Heart Foundation are warning people in the North West about the dangers of shisha as part of 'No Smoking Day 2012', after new data reveals widespread unawareness of the harm it can cause coupled with a rise in the number of shisha bars across the region.  Shisha smokers inhaling flavoured tobacco through exotic waterpipes have become a common sight in city streets across the UK. But under the romance and heady smells lies a familiar killer the BHF wants the public to be aware of.

Dr Mike Knapton, associate medical director at the BHF, said:- "Contrary to popular belief, shisha is not safer than smoking cigarettes. Don’t be duped by the sweet smell and wholesome sounding fruity flavours, if you use shisha you are a smoker and that means you’re putting your health at risk.  It’s linked to the same serious and life-threatening diseases as cigarettes and there are added risks because you often smoke it for far longer than you would a cigarette and you’re also exposed to toxins from the wood or charcoal used to burn the tobacco."

Shisha smoking is linked to the same kinds of diseases as cigarette smoking including heart disease, cancer, respiratory disease and problems during pregnancy. Yet 9% adults in the North West surveyed for the BHF thought there were no health harms from using shisha, and just 44% knew shisha could contain tobacco.

Freedom of Information data from 133 local authorities in major towns and cities across the UK shows 53% have; or have had a shisha bar since 2007, while more than 40% have seen a rise in the number of shisha bars since the smoking ban came into force. In the North West, 47% have; or have had a shisha bar, and 47% have seen a rise.

This is in stark contrast to the steady decline in cigarette smokers in the UK and has prompted the BHF to urge people to find out the facts about shisha, which is also known as hookah, hubble bubble and narghile, as part of its No Smoking Day campaign.

More than 750,000 people attempt to quit on No Smoking Day each year. But the charity is concerned thousands of quitters may still be putting their health at risk by using shisha, and that the rising number of shisha bars could provide a new gateway for people to start smoking and become addicted to tobacco.

Almost everyone in the North West surveyed for the BHF were unaware that during a typical hour long shisha session you can inhale the same amount of smoke as from more than 100 tobacco cigarettes. A total of 84% of respondents in the North West thought it was 10 or fewer.

Andrea Crossfield, Director of Tobacco Free Futures which works to tackle tobacco harms across the North West, said:- "Many users of shisha do not know or understand the health risks associated with smoking such products. It’s worrying that shisha smoking is becoming increasingly fashionable amongst young people and is not just prevalent within minority and ethnic communities, and we also need to do more to highlight that shisha bars are not exempt from the legislation which covers other tobacco."

Nationally, the survey results showed shisha is most popular among young people with 27% of UK 18 to 24 year olds saying they’d used it. Worryingly misconceptions about the dangers of shisha were highest among this group and those aged 25 to 34 with 15% each believing there were no health harms from shisha at all while 44% of the younger UK adults thought it was less harmful than cigarettes.  By comparison, 17% of overall UK respondents thought shisha was less harmful than cigarettes. In the North West, 14% adults thought it was less harmful.

The national data showed shisha is no longer a pastime for perceived specific community groups alone, with 8% people of white ethnicity saying they’d used it.  The survey also showed 9% of former cigarette smokers in the UK have used shisha as well as 8% non-smokers.  Figures for the North West show 5% people use it. Smokers who want to find out more can visit:- taketheleap.co.uk or call:- 0800 434 6677.