What is the difference between hookah and cigarettes and what is more harmful to health - Setafi

Understanding the difference between a hookah and cigarettes is quite simple. Both devices use the principle of soaring - the smoker inhales not smoke, but steam. On the other hand, hookah is smoked much longer, so the amount of tobacco is very large. Vaping is less dangerous to health, but it also causes some damage.

Difference between vape and hookah

To understand what is more harmful - a hookah or an electronic cigarette, you need to compare the principle of their work. In both cases mixtures containing tobacco are used. But they differ both in composition and in form.

The principle of the hookah

In hookah, “shisha” is used - this is a dense, almost solid substance, which is a mixture of tobacco of a certain variety (or blend) in combination with other components:

• molasses or honey;
• food glycerin;
• flavouring, e.g. apple, coffee, cola.

In this regard, it is clear how hookahs differ from each other. The difference may be due to the strength of the tobacco as well as the flavoring. But in any case, the “shisha” is heated from coconut coal, after which the smoke enters the shaft and further into the flask with water (filter). Then the smoker inhales it - the smoke enters the lungs.

Regardless of how hookahs differ, the principle of smoking is the same. It is necessary to kindle the coals, under the influence of which the tobacco will begin to smolder. But unlike a regular cigarette, the smoke is not inhaled directly, but after it enters the water filter. And if we talk about whether a hookah is smoke or steam, the second option will be correct. Before entering the flask with water, smoke goes out, and after that steam is already formed.

The principle of operation of the vape

An electronic cigarette, unlike a hookah, works a little differently. Here, not hard tobacco is used, but an aromatic liquid based on glycerin and propylene glycol. It is poured into a special tank of small volume. A wick (special cotton wool) is inserted into it, through which the liquid reaches the heating element (spiral), powered by a battery or batteries.

When the user turns on the vape, the coil heats up pretty quickly and the liquid begins to steam. It is these vapors that the smoker inhales. Often they contain nicotine, although sometimes only a glycerin base and flavorings are present in the composition.

In recent years, they began to produce a similar device - an electronic hookah. The difference from the usual one is due to the fact that not coals are used for heating, but a special spiral. In addition, the same liquids are used for smoking as for vaping. And if we talk about whether an electronic hookah is harmful, we can say that due to the longer smoking cycle, it is more dangerous compared to a regular vape.

What is more harmful - hookah or vape

Some users believe that hookah is worse than cigarettes, and vaping is the safest. There is some truth in this, but it is also true that any form of smoking is harmful to the body. To understand this, it is enough to analyze the pros and cons of each device.

Pros and cons of hookah

The study of cigarettes, vape and hookah can be started with the latter. Often smokers justify the use of a hookah, because they inhale not smoke, but steam, which is supposedly less harmful. Indeed, it has several advantages:

• there are no carcinogens, carbon monoxide, tar in the smoke;
• it quickly disappears;
• does not give an unpleasant odor.

But if we talk about the difference between a hookah and cigarettes, it should be noted that the process of smoking it is much longer and usually lasts for 30-50 minutes. This corresponds to the amount of nicotine that can be obtained from 70-100 cigarettes. We can say about the steam hookah that this is the most harmful way to consume tobacco, despite the fact that steam is really less dangerous compared to smoke. In addition, there are other disadvantages:

• fast habituation;
• harmful resins settle on the lungs faster after combining with water;
• puffs are very deep;
• with prolonged use, the same health disorders appear as from cigarettes (cough, high blood pressure, heart failure).

Pros and cons of vaping

Electronic cigarettes are indeed less harmful than regular cigarettes and than hookah. The benefits of using them are:

• no cough reflex;
• no carbon monoxide and other smoke components;
• tooth enamel remains intact;
• no unpleasant odor;
• the perception of tastes and smells is preserved.

There are also disadvantages:

• rapid formation of dependence;
• increased doses compared to conventional cigarettes;
• release of harmful substances during the evaporation of glycerin and polypropylene glycol.

Based on this review, it can be understood that hookah is much more harmful compared to vaping. Moreover, it is electronic cigarettes that are used to quit smoking. But it is also true that any type of smoking is dangerous, so there are definitely no “harmless” cigarettes.