Can Abuja be referred to as the “Shisha capital of Nigeria, by embracing the culture of Shisha smoking?” In recent years the city of Abuja and its social environ took up a new social climate, a city bubbling and gradually prepping up towards emulating the urban social city scenes like such found in Lagos and several other metropolitan capitals across Nigeria, and even the world. Abubakar Adam writes
Shisha is an oriental tobacco pipe with a long flexible tube connected to a
container where the smoke is cooled by passing through water. It comes in various types of flavours, ranging from mango, apple, kiwi, mint, guava and coca cola among others. So, the question we asked is, why do people smoke Shisha?
Usman Buzu, a businessman told LEADERSHIP Weekend, “I smoke shisha just for pleasure, especially when I see the smoke in the air. Some take it for pleasure while some take it to be “high’’ for instance people like me.”
According to Rahinat Abubakar, a student of Abuja university, ‘’ I started smoking shisha in 2015, and the reason why I smoke shisha is because it is better than cigarette’s and it has a pleasant smell,” she explained.
On a tour of the city, it would seem that youths and indeed teenagers are consuming more Shisha in Abuja, than at any time in the history of the capital. The major consumers are between ages 15 and 35. While some people believe most consume Shisha for a “high”, many of the consumers are simply indicate that they are in their experimental stage of life. However, mature persons over 35 are not left out, they too consume Shisha as they are seen at different Shisha spots. Shisha as a fad has meant new Shisha palours have sprouted in clubs, lounges and hangout spots from Wuse 2 to Gwarinpa, Asokoro to Maitama, Kubwa to Karu, Gwagwalada to Galadimawa, Area 1 to Games village, and so on. The consumption of Shisha is unparalleledand as a budding “trendy act” having your shisha pot and Hookah in the trunk of your car means that you are on an elevated social plain.
Shisha was introduced through Lagos State when it was still the bustling capital of Nigeria, with foreigners from far and near swarming the state for business, and unconsciously introducing their cultures and social habits to the natives. Perhaps it unwittingly migrated to Abuja, And to some. the capital needs this form of relaxation, as it is synonymous with work life, administration, and business; and less known for pleasure. The social scene in the FCT had started off “on the low”, with a few parks morphing into weekend spots and with residents patronising these parks for drinks (mostly alcohol) and food (mostly fish, Suya, peppered soup and small chops). But with the introduction of Shisha, it has become a different ball game.
But with the increase in the consumption of Shisha in our society, what health concerns does the pipe pose to its ardent consumers? Contradicting the myth that Shisha is a lot healthier than normal cigarette smoking, it is has been confirmed to indeed be more dangerous than cigarettes, with even more propensity to do harm to the lungs than marijuana! Dr Ahmed Adamu who works at General Hospital, Karu detailed some health concerns Shisha has, as he told LEADERSHIP Weekend in an interview, “Shisha is a tobacco and it is as harmful as the cigarette. It causes lung cancer and mouth cancer. The Arabs are taking the pure Shisha flavour, this is why it is not harmful to them. However some Nigerians go as far as using different flavours, and put in drugs such as hemp and cocaine, which can make smoking shisha harmful.”
Most lounges around the city centre stylishly offer Shisha as a way to relax.There are establishments owned by Lebanese, Indians and the Chinese indigenes. For corporate individuals and business owners who look out for high-end fun, there is no shortage of these expensive lounges and exclusive access clubs especially in Wuse 2, Maitama and Asokoro districts of the city. Most people do not just go there to eat and drink but also to network and ultimately make contacts.
Also, the progression of the burgeoning social scene in the city of Abuja could be easily followed by continually assessing the outdoor activities; both on weekdays and weekends. The people remain the same but the metamorphosis of the lifestyle is highly dependent on social trends and activities accessible by the residents.
However, to Dr Ahmed Baba, a medical expert with the Federal ministry of health, Shisha side effects should sound cautions to those who intend to indulge. “Mostly people go about doing it without really knowing what they are consuming or because they believe it is in style. Shisha is a steam inhaled and medically it does not have any benefit. It is neither food nor drink and as for the side effects, you will see that what they inhale is a steam and when they inhale that, it goes into the lungs. Let us say it is water, when you take that vapour of water, because when you heat water it tears into gas, it means its water you are sending to the lungs, while naturally, water should not be in the lungs, as it creates air spaces that is not supposed to be there. The primary function of the lung is to exchange oxygen or carbon dioxide and the moment you put water in there, the suffix for transmission can predispose individuals to lung disease, because you put water where it is not suppose to be naturally and depositing it there makes individuals susceptible to infection.” Dr Baba further explained that individuals taking Shisha, especially frequently, without knowing contents or substances risk using a water soluble substance that will be absorbed, into the body (mix with the body) and this would end in the respiratory track and will have unfortunate effects on the function of the respiratory track. “These are direct effects of Shisha, as what they put inside may be something that will make them “high”, and because it is very experimental people will indulge as a social fad. They are willing to experiment and do anything, so if you predispose them to all sort of things, without cautioning on the effects it will have on the function of the lungs, and the function of the respiratory track , which will also obviously affect the breathing pattern and once this breathing pattern is affected the primary function of the lung will be compromised; which is to exchange oxygen which the cells needs for generation of energy and then waste comes out inform of carbon dioxide and then that express out. Now if you distort that function that means you are keeping more dioxide in the body and then less oxygen and that completely affects an individual. All this could mean that these youthful, thrill seeking indivudals , will then have to contend with cases such as Asthma, difficulty in breathing and infection, it could also mean pneumonia that will subsequently also lead to lung failure.”
Despite the style that some individuals may be exposed to, whilst seeking a night out, and expirementing with Shisha, the health experts have cautioned that the terrible side, is a mirad of complications. “My advice medically, since its not food that will add value to you or benefits you, is that it is wise for people to stay away from it, and it is not even our culture! Secondly, do not go into anything without knowing it side effect,” Baba adviced.
LEADERSHIP
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Shisha is an oriental tobacco pipe with a long flexible tube connected to a
container where the smoke is cooled by passing through water. It comes in various types of flavours, ranging from mango, apple, kiwi, mint, guava and coca cola among others. So, the question we asked is, why do people smoke Shisha?
Usman Buzu, a businessman told LEADERSHIP Weekend, “I smoke shisha just for pleasure, especially when I see the smoke in the air. Some take it for pleasure while some take it to be “high’’ for instance people like me.”
According to Rahinat Abubakar, a student of Abuja university, ‘’ I started smoking shisha in 2015, and the reason why I smoke shisha is because it is better than cigarette’s and it has a pleasant smell,” she explained.
On a tour of the city, it would seem that youths and indeed teenagers are consuming more Shisha in Abuja, than at any time in the history of the capital. The major consumers are between ages 15 and 35. While some people believe most consume Shisha for a “high”, many of the consumers are simply indicate that they are in their experimental stage of life. However, mature persons over 35 are not left out, they too consume Shisha as they are seen at different Shisha spots. Shisha as a fad has meant new Shisha palours have sprouted in clubs, lounges and hangout spots from Wuse 2 to Gwarinpa, Asokoro to Maitama, Kubwa to Karu, Gwagwalada to Galadimawa, Area 1 to Games village, and so on. The consumption of Shisha is unparalleledand as a budding “trendy act” having your shisha pot and Hookah in the trunk of your car means that you are on an elevated social plain.
Shisha was introduced through Lagos State when it was still the bustling capital of Nigeria, with foreigners from far and near swarming the state for business, and unconsciously introducing their cultures and social habits to the natives. Perhaps it unwittingly migrated to Abuja, And to some. the capital needs this form of relaxation, as it is synonymous with work life, administration, and business; and less known for pleasure. The social scene in the FCT had started off “on the low”, with a few parks morphing into weekend spots and with residents patronising these parks for drinks (mostly alcohol) and food (mostly fish, Suya, peppered soup and small chops). But with the introduction of Shisha, it has become a different ball game.
But with the increase in the consumption of Shisha in our society, what health concerns does the pipe pose to its ardent consumers? Contradicting the myth that Shisha is a lot healthier than normal cigarette smoking, it is has been confirmed to indeed be more dangerous than cigarettes, with even more propensity to do harm to the lungs than marijuana! Dr Ahmed Adamu who works at General Hospital, Karu detailed some health concerns Shisha has, as he told LEADERSHIP Weekend in an interview, “Shisha is a tobacco and it is as harmful as the cigarette. It causes lung cancer and mouth cancer. The Arabs are taking the pure Shisha flavour, this is why it is not harmful to them. However some Nigerians go as far as using different flavours, and put in drugs such as hemp and cocaine, which can make smoking shisha harmful.”
Most lounges around the city centre stylishly offer Shisha as a way to relax.There are establishments owned by Lebanese, Indians and the Chinese indigenes. For corporate individuals and business owners who look out for high-end fun, there is no shortage of these expensive lounges and exclusive access clubs especially in Wuse 2, Maitama and Asokoro districts of the city. Most people do not just go there to eat and drink but also to network and ultimately make contacts.
Also, the progression of the burgeoning social scene in the city of Abuja could be easily followed by continually assessing the outdoor activities; both on weekdays and weekends. The people remain the same but the metamorphosis of the lifestyle is highly dependent on social trends and activities accessible by the residents.
However, to Dr Ahmed Baba, a medical expert with the Federal ministry of health, Shisha side effects should sound cautions to those who intend to indulge. “Mostly people go about doing it without really knowing what they are consuming or because they believe it is in style. Shisha is a steam inhaled and medically it does not have any benefit. It is neither food nor drink and as for the side effects, you will see that what they inhale is a steam and when they inhale that, it goes into the lungs. Let us say it is water, when you take that vapour of water, because when you heat water it tears into gas, it means its water you are sending to the lungs, while naturally, water should not be in the lungs, as it creates air spaces that is not supposed to be there. The primary function of the lung is to exchange oxygen or carbon dioxide and the moment you put water in there, the suffix for transmission can predispose individuals to lung disease, because you put water where it is not suppose to be naturally and depositing it there makes individuals susceptible to infection.” Dr Baba further explained that individuals taking Shisha, especially frequently, without knowing contents or substances risk using a water soluble substance that will be absorbed, into the body (mix with the body) and this would end in the respiratory track and will have unfortunate effects on the function of the respiratory track. “These are direct effects of Shisha, as what they put inside may be something that will make them “high”, and because it is very experimental people will indulge as a social fad. They are willing to experiment and do anything, so if you predispose them to all sort of things, without cautioning on the effects it will have on the function of the lungs, and the function of the respiratory track , which will also obviously affect the breathing pattern and once this breathing pattern is affected the primary function of the lung will be compromised; which is to exchange oxygen which the cells needs for generation of energy and then waste comes out inform of carbon dioxide and then that express out. Now if you distort that function that means you are keeping more dioxide in the body and then less oxygen and that completely affects an individual. All this could mean that these youthful, thrill seeking indivudals , will then have to contend with cases such as Asthma, difficulty in breathing and infection, it could also mean pneumonia that will subsequently also lead to lung failure.”
Despite the style that some individuals may be exposed to, whilst seeking a night out, and expirementing with Shisha, the health experts have cautioned that the terrible side, is a mirad of complications. “My advice medically, since its not food that will add value to you or benefits you, is that it is wise for people to stay away from it, and it is not even our culture! Secondly, do not go into anything without knowing it side effect,” Baba adviced.
LEADERSHIP
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