Al Amn Magazine # 160

FEBRUARY 2023 40 lectronic cigarettes or electronic hookahs, with their bright colors, are made with exciting flavors, aiming to deliver nicotine to the person’s lungs through steam instead of the smoke rising from the regular hookah. This vapour contains nicotine. Electronic cigarettes or vaping is promoted by their sellers as a healthy hookah that has no danger, given that it does not contain carbon monoxide. In fact, the substances in its composition have not been fully classified yet, and incomplete combustion may lead to many harmful consequences causing cancer and chronic physical and psychological changes. The idea of making an electronic hookah depends on the presence of a heating device that contains a battery. When the electronic hookah is used, the heating device inside it works automatically and leads to converting the liquid substance in the hookah into steam. Although the electronic hookah contains a much lower percentage of nicotine than the traditional hookah, it has many dangers that lead to the incidence of some different types of cancer due to the fact that it contains some harmful substances that have proven to have a negative impact on the lung, brain and other organs of the body. The difference between the electronic hookah and the traditional hookah is only in the amount of nicotine, but it may also differ from it in the mechanism of action and how to use it. There is growing concern that young people are turning to e-cigarettes because they see them as completely safe. The latest data shows that 11 per cent of 11-17-year-olds tried e-cigarettes in 2021. Another study indicates that disposable e-cigarettes are growing in popularity among eCigerattesare far fromsafe Lungdamage,pneumoniamajor risks MEDICAL Dr. Zahra Khalifa Family Medicine Consultant E