Alternative cigarette smokes are perceived to be a definite escape route for smokers. Most smokers certainly wish for alternatives that would enable them to embrace their smoking habit without the worry of addiction, cancer, and other risk burdens associated with smoking. Indeed, with such an attitude, many smokers have resorted to herbal cigarettes, hookahs, and e-cigarettes. Although alternative smokes may be considered safe, they harbor similar risks associated with conventional cigarettes, and some of these classes may be even deleterious. Here is what you should know about these alternative smokes.
Herbal Cigarettes
Clove cigarettes are the most typical herbal cigarettes containing at most 70% tobacco amalgamated with clove, flavorings, clove oils, and other additives. Herbal cigarettes are marketed as safer forms. However, they produce tar, which is the primary carcinogen in cigarettes. Research asserts that herbal cigarettes have similar carcinogens found in conventional cigarettes. Likewise, passive smoking can also be harmful to the people around the smoker. Addiction is also shared with herbal cigarettes since they contain nicotine, which is linked to addiction. Although these forms of alternative smokes may be better, their health risks are mush similar or even higher than those of traditional cigarettes are. The sweet aroma and taste is appealing and can cause addiction to the users. Moreover, other herbal smokes lack tobacco, but their safety is unwarranted due to the production of tar.
Hookahs
These are water-cooled pipes containing several tubes that covey then smokes to different people from a similar pipe. Herbs can be a prominent component. However, most use flavored tobacco. The safety of hookahs is deplorable. Hookahs seem to pose a greater health risk than cigarettes. Notably, the World Health Organization projected some remarkable findings showing that an hour of hookah smoking exposes one to about a hundred cigarette smokes. It is common for people to think that toxins can be filtered with water in the hookah pipes. However, water functions to facilitate inhaling by cooling the smoke. Tar, carbon monoxide, and other carcinogens are also typical in hookahs. Addiction is commonplace due to the presence of nicotine. Additionally, there is a risk of contracting flu, hepatitis, cold, herpes, and other diseases because of sharing the pipes’ mouthpiece with other users.
E-cigarettes
Electronic cigarettes normally vaporize liquids into inhalable vapors. Nicotine and other additives substitute tobacco. Although e-cigarettes lack tobacco, the FDA refers to them as tobacco products. The safety of e-cigarettes remains unclear. Marketers disguise with the notion that e-cigarettes help smokers quit their habit. Low-levels of carcinogens were located in e-cigarettes in particular research; however, little has been done to ascertain these findings.
Conclusion
Although alternative smokes disguise in their safety, they are still hazardous to the users. Like other tobacco smokers, addiction is inevitable. Ultimately, other health risk burdens are typical in alternative smokes.
