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Shisha Smoking—Behaviour with Health and Social Implications, Affecting All Ages

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Healthy Lifestyle

Part of the book series: Integrated Science ((IS,volume 3))

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Abstract

Different behaviours are developed over time; some are learnt from childhood while some are learnt at adulthood. Some of these behaviours may or may not have adverse effects on our health. While some behaviour have adverse health effects, some people still practice it due to social influence. A popular example of a harmful social behaviour is shisha smoking. Shisha smoke contains so many harmful substances which can cut human life short. Most, if not all, of the scientific research works ever conducted on shisha were focused on young people; little to no attention on the exploration of shisha smoking practices (or exposures to shisha smoke) among people who are in the extreme ages (i.e. foetus and the elderly). Meanwhile, in reality, all are prone to the hazards associated with exposures to shisha smoke. In this chapter, we described how shisha works, and went further to discuss the historical and epidemiological aspects, socio-legal issues, and medical issues on shisha. We also pointed out the health implications of shisha on those in the extreme ages. Importantly, the existing policies, laws, and scientific information on shisha are largely inadequate. We recommended important strategies that can be effectively used to reduce the burden of shisha smoking across all ages.

“As the smoking of tobacco has taken very bad effect upon the health and mind of many persons, I ordered that no-one should practice the habit. My brother Shah Abbas also being aware of its evil effects, has issued a command against the use of it in Iran.”

—Mogul Emperor of Hirdustan—Early 17th Century

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Acknowledgements

This work is dedicated to Darasimi Faith Samuel Kanmodi—the firstborn child of KKK (first author), who was born on September 16, 2020.

Funding

This work was self-funded.

Conflict of Interest

Authors have none to declare.

Definition of Key Terms

Longevity: living for a long time [75].

Passive shisha smoker: a person, be it a child or an adult, which involuntarily inhale a mixture of the smoke given off directly by the burning of tobacco and the smoke exhaled by smokers. A passive shisha smoker is also referred to as a second-hand smoker or an involuntary smoker [65].

Quality of life: an individual's perception of their position in life in the context of the culture and value systems in which they live and in relation to their goals, expectations, standards and concerns [76].

Shisha: a water-pipe, popular in many Arab countries, in which fruit-scented tobacco is burnt using coal, passed through an ornate water vessel and inhaled through a hose [4].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical Research Unit, Adonai Hospital, Karu, Nigeria

    Kehinde Kazeem Kanmodi

  2. Tobacco Research and Advocacy Group, Cephas Health Research Initiative Inc, Ibadan, Nigeria

    Kehinde Kazeem Kanmodi

  3. Healthy Mind Program, Mental and Oral Health Development Organization Inc, Sapele, Nigeria

    Kehinde Kazeem Kanmodi

  4. Department of Accident and Emergency, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

    Dabota Yvonne Buowari

  5. Pediatrics Department and USERN Office, Child Growth and Development Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-Communicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

    Roya Kelishadi

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  1. Kehinde Kazeem Kanmodi
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  3. Roya Kelishadi
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Pediatrics Department and USERN Office, Child Growth and Development Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-Communicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

    Roya Kelishadi

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Kanmodi, K.K., Buowari, D.Y., Kelishadi, R. (2022). Shisha Smoking—Behaviour with Health and Social Implications, Affecting All Ages. In: Kelishadi, R. (eds) Healthy Lifestyle. Integrated Science, vol 3. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-85357-0_10

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