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Water Pipe Smoking: Effects, Attitudes and Directions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 February 2012

Waseem Watad ,
Javeed Sukhera ,
Sagit Shushan ,
Mazen Kazlak ,
Harvey A. Skinner ,
Arafat A. Alnueirat  and
Yehudah Roth
Waseem Watad
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology—Head & Neck Surgery, Edith Wolfson Medical Center, Tel Aviv University Sackler School of Medicine, Holon, Israel.
Javeed Sukhera
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, United States of America.
Sagit Shushan
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology—Head & Neck Surgery, Edith Wolfson Medical Center, Tel Aviv University Sackler School of Medicine, Holon, Israel.
Mazen Kazlak
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology—Head & Neck Surgery, Edith Wolfson Medical Center, Tel Aviv University Sackler School of Medicine, Holon, Israel; New Dawn Society, Nablus, Palestinian Authority.
Harvey A. Skinner
Affiliation:
Faculty of Health, York University, Toronto, Canada.
Arafat A. Alnueirat
Affiliation:
Department of ENT, Royal Medical Services, Amman, Jordan.
Yehudah Roth*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology—Head & Neck Surgery, Edith Wolfson Medical Center, Tel Aviv University Sackler School of Medicine, Holon, Israel; Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Canada. [email protected]
*
*Address for correspondence: Yehudah Roth, MD, Department of Otolaryngology — Head & Neck Surgery, Edith Wolfson Medical Center, P.O.B. 5, Holon 58100, Israel.
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Abstract

Water pipe (WP) smoking is prevalent in several countries and is emerging as a major international public health issue. This article reviews the literature on WP smoking practices and its health effects. Water pipe smoking in the Middle East is more common in women compared to cigarette smoking. WP smoking has harmful effects similar to cigarette smoking, and the nicotine and tar content of WP smoke is higher than that of cigarettes. Still, many users believe that WP is less harmful than cigarettes and are unaware of the damage that WP can cause to their health. There is limited literature on WP smoking, highlighting the need for research in several areas including: epidemiology of WP smoking, sociological dimensions and tobacco control. The unique social and traditional role of WP smoking renders forgiving, culture-sensitive and patient approach.

Keywords

preventioncessation
Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Smoking Cessation , Volume 4 , Issue 1 , 01 May 2009 , pp. 18 - 25
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

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