Is tea smoke harmful to the body?
Disease description:
Hello doctor, I recently came across a product on the market called "tea cigarettes." It is advertised as containing no nicotine, being harmless to the body, and even helping with quitting smoking. My husband smokes heavily, and I'm worried that his continued smoking will affect his health. I was somewhat tempted and wanted to buy it for him to try. However, I'm also afraid this product might also be harmful. I'd like to ask you – do tea cigarettes actually harm the body or not?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Bai Hongmei
Tea smoke is also harmful to health.
Although tea smoke does not contain nicotine, it still produces harmful substances such as tar and carbon monoxide during the burning process. Tar is a complex mixture containing multiple carcinogens; long-term inhalation may increase the risk of cancers such as lung cancer and oral cancer. Carbon monoxide binds with hemoglobin, reducing the blood's ability to carry oxygen and affecting oxygen supply to organs throughout the body, which may lead to symptoms such as dizziness and fatigue.
Moreover, the smoke produced by burning tea can irritate the respiratory mucous membranes, triggering respiratory problems such as coughing and shortness of breath. Long-term exposure may also impair the normal defense mechanisms of the respiratory tract, increasing the likelihood of respiratory infections. Components in tea such as caffeine and theophylline may also cause adverse reactions in high concentrations, such as palpitations and insomnia.
Tea smoke may not truly satisfy nicotine dependence, thus failing to achieve smoking cessation effects. Furthermore, it may create a false sense of safety in users, leading them to continue smoking and delaying opportunities to quit. Therefore, tea smoke is not recommended as a healthy alternative or as an aid for quitting smoking.
