Hookahs vs. Cigarette Smoking: Which One Is Safer and Less Addictive?

  • Medical Author:
    John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP

    John P. Cunha, DO, is a U.S. board-certified Emergency Medicine Physician. Dr. Cunha's educational background includes a BS in Biology from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, and a DO from the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences in Kansas City, MO. He completed residency training in Emergency Medicine at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, New Jersey.

  • Medical Editor: William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
    William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

    William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

    Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

What are the health risks of hookah and cigarette smoking (including secondhand smoke)?

People who smoke hookahs and cigarette smokers are at risk for some of the same diseases and health problems, including:

If you feel you may be addicted to smoking hookahs or cigarettes, contact your doctor or other health care professional for advise on smoking cessation.

REFERENCES:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). "Dangers of Hookah Smoking." Updated: Nov 09, 2015.
<https://www.cdc.gov/features/hookahsmoking>

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). "Hookahs." Updated: Dec 01, 2016.
<https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/tobacco_industry/hookahs/>

Office on Smoking and Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. "Hookahs. Updated: Dec 01, 2016.
<https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/tobacco_industry/hookahs/>

The RWU Health and Wellness Educators. "Hookah vs. Cigarettes Facts, Misconceptions and Risks."
<http://rwu.edu/sites/default/files/hookahbrochure.pdf>

Medically Reviewed by a Doctor on 5/24/2017

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