Water Pipe (Hookah) Smoking and Cardiovascular Disease Risk

Published: March 08, 2019

man in sunglasses smoking a hookah
  • Tobacco smoking using a water pipe or hookah is more common among youth and young adults than adults; it's increasingly globally abetted by flavored tobacco marketing, social media promotion, and misperceptions regarding its addictive potential and health effects.
  • There is growing evidence that water pipe tobacco smoking acutely affects heart rate, blood pressure regulation, baroreflex sensitivity, tissue oxygenation, and vascular function; chronic use is associated with increased coronary artery disease risk.
  • This Statement describes the design and operation of water pipes and use patterns, identifies harmful components, and offers guidance to providers on cessation and for identifying and treating water pipe users.