Shisha: Dependence and toxicity at least equivalent to cigarettes Shisha is as harmful to health as cigarettes. It may even be worse! For the WHO (World Health Organization), a single session of shisha has the same impact on health as smoking 20 or 30 cigarettes. The health effects are similar to those observed in a regular smoker. The use of hookah can lead to significant exposure to carbon monoxide (CO), even with non-tobacco products, due to the charcoal used to heat the shisha. This can cause CO poisoning, according to Dr. Nathaniel Scher, an oncologist. Combustion gives off a smoke cooled by water, which is considered "softer". In reality, water does not help: firstly because it retains... [Read more]