Shisha Smoking Increases Tuberculosis Risk
Smoking Shisha water pipe increased risk of air-borne tuberculosis (TB) transmission from pipe sharing and preparation of the pipe. Although the most important risk factor for TB infection was close household contact with a TB case; water pipe smoking and the sharing of the pipe with someone with pulmonary TB can also led to a great risk of TB transmission.
Having a good time in a Shisha bar can be an enjoyable experience. In fact, if you asked a Shisha user; the good times and social interaction a Shisha users had is one of a kind experience. But wait a minute; do this people know if their Shisha or Hooka pipes are thoroughly cleaned and free from lurking bacterias? Does the ever essential pipe had been sanitized well and the water inside the apparatus had been changed? These important questions are supposedly vital to every Shisha user. Because the Shisha pipes and the water inside it; can contribute to the spread of one of the infectious and communicable disease, Tuberculosis.
Shisha is where people smoke tobacco and inhale directly from this Shisha pipe and if some bacteria may reside in it, it will be easily inhaled. When going into a Shisha bar, they do change the mouthpiece, but what about the tube of the pipe and the water. You still have water in the container where the bacteria can resides. These questions are essential to know and so are the culprit bacteria causing TB. Knowledge is power and knowing the problem will help you know what is the right thing to so.
What is Tuberculosis?
TB is short for tuberculosis. TB disease is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis is not a hereditary disease. It is an infectious disease. The bacteria usually attack the lungs, but TB bacteria can attack any part of the body such as the kidney, spine, and brain. If not treated properly, TB disease can be fatal.
TB is spread through the air from one person to another. The TB bacteria are put into the air when a person with active TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes, speaks, or sings. People nearby may breathe in these bacteria and become infected. TB is not spread by shaking someone’s hand, sharing food or drink, touching bed linens or toilet seats, sharing toothbrushes, or kissing.
What are Symptoms of Tuberculosis?
Characteristic symptoms of TB are persistent cough of more than three weeks duration, cough with expectoration of sputum, fever, weight loss or loss of appetite etc. If any of these symptoms persist beyond three weeks, the person concerned should visit the nearest Health Centre and get his sputum examined.
It is essential to get sputum examined on three consecutive days for TB bacteria in order to diagnose TB. Sputum for examination should be given after coughing properly. It is important not to give saliva in place of sputum. If saliva is submitted for examination, the disease may not be diagnosed.
What are the Treatments for Tuberculosis and its Prevention?
The treatment for TB is taken on a regular and continuous basis for adequate duration. If a full course of anti-tubercular drugs is taken on a regular basis, this disease is fully curable. A TB patient has to take medicines for a minimum period of six months continuously. The drugs may continue up to on year in some cases. It is important that the drugs are discontinued only on the advice of the doctor. Patients who do not take a complete treatment or take drugs on an irregular basis, their disease turn incurable or even life-threatening.
Before having a Shisha session keep in mind to ask and investigate the process and duration in the sanitation of the apparatus used, and that the water are keep clean and changed regularly. Still the best prevention in being not the victim of TB case through Shisha is to not smoke it at all.
How is Tuberculosis Connected to Shisha?
The Shisha water pipe and the water inside the Shisha apparatus can be a residence to the bacteria that caused TB; which can result into the spread and transmission of the disease. It is through pipe sharing with someone with pulmonary TB, which led to a great risk of TB transmission.
The fact is, Shisha can spread TB and every user should know this. Having this Shisha fix can bring you together with your friends, or colleagues. To some, smoking Shisha is a culture; they do it together, and they enjoy it together. Think of the possibility though of the circumstance where you contact TB through Shisha smoking. Picture what will happen. I bet those friends you called and those people you are with while smoking Shisha, will look differently at you.
Wake up and look at both the pros and cons of smoking Shisha. I believed that it should be the good stuff that should win, that you will look at the risk and decide to think twice before engaging to Shisha smoking. But the preference and the decision are yours. You have the knowledge now. Think now which side do you want. The bad side, where the effects of Shisha are just waiting to be manifested in your body; or the clean lifestyle that will give you a ticket to a healthy you. You decide. Make a difference now and know all about Shisha, the thing you are crazy about. Be informed about Shisha, it’s your right.