{
  "id": 18486731,
  "title": "Shisha smoking is slow suicide – Cardiologist warns",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/06/shisha-smoking-is-slow-suicide-cardiologist-warns",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-06T10:11:07.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/shisha-smoking-is-slow-suicide-cardiologist-warns/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Dr Lawrence Serebour, a former director of the Korle Bu Cardio Centre, has cautioned against shisha smoking, branding it as \"slow-acting suicide.\" The cardiologist explained that shisha smoking exposes users to harmful chemicals that can damage organs and cause cancer. Despite the belief that shisha is less harmful due to its smoke passing through water, Serebour debunked this claim, stating that the water does not filter out dangerous substances. In fact, the carbon monoxide released during shisha smoking is far more harmful than that inhaled from regular cigarettes. Carbon monoxide affects the heart, lungs, and the blood's ability to transport oxygen. Serebour emphasized that an hour-long shisha session can expose a user to smoke equivalent to 100 to 200 cigarettes. He added that while a cigarette is typically finished after 20 puffs, a shisha user can inhale smoke over 200 times in an hour. Tobacco smoke contains over 7,000 chemicals, with 70 being carcinogenic. Serebour linked the health consequences of shisha smoking to his description of it as slow suicide, describing it as a harmful and potentially fatal practice. The cardiologist also pointed out that shisha can be addictive due to nicotine and other substances present in tobacco products.",
  "summary": "Former Director of the Korle Bu Cardio Centre, Dr Lawrence Serebour, has described shisha smoking as “slow-acting suicide”, warning that the practice exposes users to harmful chemicals that can damage vital organs and cause cancer. He said the belief that shisha is less harmful than conventional cigarettes because its smoke passes through water is false, […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}