During Manchester Mega Mela 2012, Dr Hannan volunteered to help the British Heart Foundation’s Lounge which was set up to inform attendees on the risks of Shisha (smokeless tobacco) smoking to their health. Later he was invited to a radio interview with BBC Radio Manchester’s own Talat-Farooq Awan and Qaim Zaidi (British Heart Foundation’s BME Project Manager) to discuss what issues were raised on the day and why we should all be aware of the risks of Shisha smoking and seek help to try to stop. Click on the video below to listen to the discussions.
There has been a huge reported increase in the number of establishments promoting the Turkish water pipe which is referred to by various names: Hubbly-bubbly, Hookah as well the Shisha pipe. With this growth in use, possibly due to the smoking ban in public places and the more social nature of sharing shisha pipes, the impression has also arisen that smoking in this way is in some way less harmful than the risks posed by smoking cigarettes.
“a session smoking a shisha pipe could be equivalent to smoking 100 cigarettes based on the volumes of smoke inhaled”
The World Health Organisation
We have provided a range of links to resources that you may find helpful if you want to find out more about this. Haughton Thornley Medical Centres is always keen to work with our patients to help them to give up smoking (also called Smoking Cessation) and we have had a lot of success in this over recent years. Speak to your GP or Practice Nurse if you would like to find out how we can help you.
Public Awareness video by 3rd year medical student Robert McTear
Shisha by the British Heart Foundation
