COMPARATIVE STUDY ON THE EFFECT OF CIGARETTES AND SHISHA (HOOKAH) SMOKE ON THE LUNG FUNCTION OF YOUNG ADULT MALE SUBJECTS

ABSTRACT

 Smoking is one of the biggest public health threats and it kills approximately 6 million people a year. Shisha smoking is continuing to be a socially acceptable method of tobacco smoking especially in the young population worldwide. In opposition to the rapid spread of shisha use habit, the knowledge on its associated health hazards is only unrecognize its health risks. Indeed, numerous studies have reported lung functional impairment, and acute respiratory diseases are associated with shisha smoking.  Users of shisha sustain many misconceptions about this type of tobacco use and largely shisha use maintains a higher approval from society compared to cigarettes. Shisha is as such perceived to be less harmful. The aim of this study is to compare the effect of shisha (hookah) and Cigarettes smoke on lung function. 80 apparently healthy male subjects between the age of 18 and 25 years were recruited for this study. They were divided into four (4) groups (A B C D) of twenty (20) subjects each. Group A control, Group B cigarettes smokers only, Group C shisha smokers only, Group D cigarettes and shisha (hookah) smokers. Data were analyzed using graph pad prison version (8.1) and result are presented as standard error of mean ±SEM and P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Spirometric measurement was carried out on all subjects and data appropriately recorded. This study FEV1/FVC showed significant decreases in Cigarette only smokers and Shisha only smokers compared with non-smokers, there was also a significant decrease in those who combine Cigarette and Shisha compared with non-smokers. In the FEV1 and FVC value there were significant decreases in those who smoke only and combination of Shisha and Cigarette compared with non-smokers, though there was no significant difference in those who smokes Cigarette only compared with non-smokers. This is in line with. In conclusion, the combine cigarettes & shisha smoking may be more detrimental to the lung due to the fact cigarettes contains nicotine and also the smoke of shisha contains components from both the tobacco and coal hence should be avoided.