This is with reference to the report “Stub it out: Smoking killed 23,000 in KSA last year” (Feb. 22). This is really an alarming figure. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), smoking causes 22 percent of the cancer-related deaths worldwide and half of habitual smokers are expected to die from tobacco-induced cancer. We, sadly, see 30 million new smokers every year in the world. This shows the public disregard for the danger of this dreaded habit.

I have a good number of shisha-smoking friends, who always argue that it is harmless. I failed to convince them that it is equally harmful as cigarette if not worse, until I came across a study reported by the BBC.

The people who smoke “shisha” or herbal tobacco can suffer from high carbon monoxide levels. It was found that one session of smoking “shisha” resulted in carbon monoxides levels four to five times higher than the amount produced by one cigarette. High level of carbon monoxide can lead to brain damage and unconsciousness.

Parents looking at their children smoking “shisha” usually don’t take it seriously. Dr. Hilary Wareing, director of Tobacco Control Collaborating Center (UK) says, “One session of smoking “shisha” — that’s 10 milligrams of fruit tobacco for 30 minutes — gave carbon monoxide levels that were at the lowest four and five times higher than having a cigarette.”

Everyone born in this world is bound to die one day or another by one disease or other but the suffering they under go by disease caused by smoking, it is reported, is agonizing and unbearable. Please don’t smoke!

S.H. Moulana

Riyadh