I wouldn’t say I’m a health freak – I spend most of my time sitting at home on the internet and If I’m out and about you’ll usually find me eating somewhere.

You used to be able to find me sitting at a shisha place on Haji Lane. I’m not going to lie to you. I enjoy smoking shisha. I love how it just relaxes you and that it is ultimately one of the most enjoyable things to do while just sitting with your friends and talking shit. You can have it with wine, with beer or with a meal. Doesn’t really matter what time of the day – at night is the best.

That is what I used to tell people. Actually I still tell people that although my story now comes with a bit of a warning. Since smoking shisha I have found that I am short of breath, get tired very easily and have sore throats more often than not. I’ve had 6 major throat infections in one year. I probably have cancer (I don’t know if I do but I wouldn’t be surprised if I do.)

By the way I’m not getting paid by the HPB to do this post. I am simply sharing my story because yes shisha is fun and it seems totally harmless! Especially since it doesn’t come with any warnings. It is simply sold to you, even if you are underage. Most people think shisha is safer than cigarettes – I even thought this myself! I used to think “well it is going through this water filter and long ass pipe – of course it’s safer! It’s filtered!” but what I didn’t know at first was that an hour shisha-ing is about the same as smoking 100 cigarettes. When I heard this it didn’t automatically make me stop. I kept smoking… because I knew better than all these naysayers. After a while the effects took their toll on my body. I stopped. Cold turkey. I said to myself – enough is enough. If I keep smoking this enjoyable delightful less than harmful smoky treat then I may not have enough breath to even walk to the kitchen anymore.

My story isn’t a long one but hopefully you can see a little of yourself in it – I’m not urging people to go and quit straight away but be aware of what you are doing to your body. Then you may see where and why it is happening.

Here are a few facts:

“Regular shisha smokers have lungs that function at a 25% lower rate than non-smokers”

“Shisha smokers can easily become physically, emotionally and habitually dependent on shisha smoking.”

“Like cigarette smoking, shisha smoking is also linked to an increased risk of lung, mouth and urinary bladder cancer and a decrease in sperm count”

“Sharing of the mouth piece can definitely put you at serious risk of contracting communicable diseases such as tuberculosis and hepatitis.”

Those facts are from: breathe.sg

Here is a video from “the shisha master” I don’t really like the way he talks because I find it kinda insulting to the smoker rather than helping them but I guess it is how the video is supposed to be – just watch it, he says some very interesting things.

Once you are done reading I urge you to share this with your shisha smoking friends. Hopefully they will get something out of it…

** Update:

I’m not here to tell you how to give up or what to do to stop smoking or to even say “hey look, I’m so much better than you now that I don’t smoke shisha.” I’m simply sharing my story. If you want to keep smoking because you enjoy it – I don’t blame you.