Washington, Oct 17 : Though previous studies have shown that smoking a water-pipe, more commonly known as a 'hookah' in the Indian sub-continent, is as harmful as cigarette smoking, a new research has found that the trend is rising.

According to the Cochrane researchers, while many Western countries are putting public health pressure to stop smoking, the use of waterpipes, also known as hubble-bubbles, narghiles, shishas, gozas or narkeelas, is increasing.

The research team set out to see if there was any evidence about the addictive properties of this form of tobacco use, and whether there were research trials looking at treatment options to help waterpipe users quit.

“We searched for published and unpublished waterpipe cessation trials in any language, especially in areas of the world where waterpipe use is widespread, but were unable to find any,” says lead researcher Dr Wasim Maziak.

He added that some of the information gap would be plugged because his team is currently researching ways of developing cessation interventions for waterpipe users.

Many people believe that because the tobacco smoke is drawn through water, it is less harmful than other forms of smoking, but the evidence accumulated so far does not support that assumption, Dr Maziak said.

He also cited previous studies that have proved that using a waterpipe is as addictive and harmful as other forms of tobacco smoking.

“As waterpipe use is increasing throughout Europe and North America it is very important that we initiate comprehensive research efforts to combat this looming epidemic,” says Dr Maziak. (ANI)