What Is More Harmful: Hookah or Cigarettes?

October 28, 2025

2 min read

According to the World Health Organization, hookah smoking has a more negative effect on the body than smoking cigarettes. Is this true? And what is the difference?

Key takeaways

According to the World Health Organization, hookah smoking has a more negative effect on the body than smoking cigarettes.
Importance of quantity
Massive attack

Who this is for

People exploring Respiratory system through cancer, lungs.

Why it matters

This piece helps you get oriented quickly, then move into a collection or series if you want to keep going.

Article author

Dr. Helga

General practitioner

Importance of quantity

One portion of hookah contains about the same amount of nicotine as a pack of cigarettes. But smoking a hookah is a long, drawn-out process, which on average takes at least half an hour. Even an avid smoker smokes one cigarette every half an hour, but a hookah smoker smokes the equivalent of one pack over the same amount of time. Doctors and WHO experts agree that a pack of cigarettes in half an hour is a tremendous blow to the lungs. Hookah smokers typically only smoke a maximum of once per day.

Massive attack

Let’s look at the math: a cigarette smoker takes about 8–12 puffs for 5–7 minutes (average time), during which he or she inhales a total of 0.5–0.6 liters of smoke. The average time of hookah smoking is from 100 to 200 puffs, and each puff contains 0.15–1 liters of smoke. This amount should be divided by the number of people, as hookahs are usually smoked in a company, not alone. So if there are more than two hookah smokers, do they harm themselves less than if they smoked cigarettes? No. It is not so much about the amount of nicotine as it is about the effect on the lungs. In addition, paradoxically, the lungs of smokers due to systematic contact with the poisonous substances somewhat adapt to intoxication, while the hookah addicts’ sudden and sharp nicotine intake in large doses leads to more serious poisoning (which explains the euphoria of many experienced hookahs).

Another important point is that the smoke in a hookah passes through a water filter (which many people mistakenly think is a better purification that retains nicotine). However, moisture does enter the alveoli of the lungs. Cigarette smoke, on the other hand, is dry. Moisture is an excellent medium for bacteria to multiply, so even if nicotine itself has not "killed" the lungs, after smoking hookah the probability of developing bacterial infections in the bronchi is much higher.

In most countries of the world, hookah and cigarette smoking have the same legal restrictions. It is important to remember that hookah is not as dangerous as some believe.

Continue reading

Respiratory system#lungs

Electronic Cigarettes: Are They Bad for You?

Electronic cigarettes also referred to as vapes, are one of the most controversial topics these days. Some experts believe that they are as harmful as regular cigarettes. Others argue that, on the contrary, they are helpful and beneficial for smokers who would like to quit. Let's take a look at the health risks of using them.

Dr. AnastasiaOct 28, 2025

Respiratory system#stress

Panic Breathing: What is Hyperventilation Syndrome?

With sudden breathing, every heartbeat sounds like a thunderclap, and sweating becomes more intense. Many people mistake these symptoms for a heart attack. If this is a regular occurrence, it is most likely hyperventilation syndrome. In most cases, hyperventilation (rapid and shallow breathing) goes hand in hand with anxiety or panic disorder. It occurs more often in women than in men. This condition does not threaten your life, but it significantly affects the quality of life.

Dr. AsyaOct 28, 2025

Bones and muscles#fitness

What Are the Best Sports That Don’t Harm Our Joints

There is at least one part of our body that does not enjoy sports at all—the joints. What kind of fitness is the best for them?

Dr. HelgaOct 28, 2025

Men's health#cancer

Men’s Talk: How Not to Miss Cancer Symptoms

Many men are not fond of going to the doctor — even when they should. This is why cancer is sometimes only detected in men at a late stage when nothing can be done. Let's look at the cancers that primarily affect men and what diagnostics every man should undergo regularly to not miss the disease at an early stage.

Dr. MaxOct 28, 2025

Install Ornament to not only read these articles, but also track your health, store test results, and access other useful features

Install Ornament