A research conducted by the researchers from the University of California, San Diego's Department of Family and Preventive Medicine and San Diego State University has found that the hookah smoking habit is becoming highly popular among American Youth.

A hookah, also known as water pipe, is a single or multi-stemmed smoking instrument, often made of glass, consisting of a smoke chamber, a bowl, a pipe and a hose. The hookah involves the use of charcoal to heat specially made tobacco which has been soaked in molasses or honey and is highly flavored.

Hookah cafes or bars have also become extremely popular in past few years. These cafes offer the customers a wide range of favors such as chocolate, bubble gum, mango, jasmine, mint, rose petals and others.

Most of the youngsters are unaware of the negative health consequences related with hookah smoking. They think that hookah smoking is safer than cigarette smoking, cigars, and smokeless tobacco.

Medical experts warn that the use of hookah is linked with many harmful diseases such as coronary heart disease, adverse pulmonary effects and cancers of the lung, mouth and bladder. Hookah smoke contains many carcinogens and heavy metals which makes it harmful than cigarette.