A bizarre smoking stunt by a man who smoked several beedis simultaneously through his nose has made news (see Fig. 1). It appears to have been done as a show of stamina, but with the health hazards of smoking tobacco through the nose.
In the stunt, the man can be seen trying to smoke multiple beedis at the same time with his nose as he inhales tobacco smoke through his nose. The unusual technique has surprised the viewer since smoking is typically associated with inhaling tobacco smoke through the mouth. Smoking through the nose to inhale smoke and heat exposure to toxic substances and smoke may stress sensitive tissue in the nose and respiratory system.
Beedis are typical hand-rolled tobacco products and are widely used in parts of India. They are smaller than many cigarettes but are not considered safe cigarettes. Tobacco smoke is filled with bad things, and frequent usage puts you at risk of serious diseases.
The unusual stunt also underscores the dangers of attempting smoking-related challenges just for entertainment or social media attention. People who watch such acts might be tempted to imitate them without understanding the potential consequences.
Smoking through the nose can irritate the nasal lining and throat. Exposure to smoke can compromise the respiratory tract and lungs. Attempting to inhale smoke from multiple burning tobacco products simultaneously could potentially increase exposure to harmful substances and may cause coughing, breathing difficulty, dizziness, or other immediate symptoms.
The physical risks of handling many burning beedis at once are also severe. A person doing such an act may burn their nose, face, lips, hands, or surrounding skin accidentally. Smoking tobacco can also cause fire if the stunt is done indoors or near flammable materials.
The unusual nature of the act has made it a curiosity, but health experts recommend against smoking and exposure to tobacco smoke. Smoking tobacco is associated with cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and respiratory diseases. Tobacco smoking is not safe.
The incident also emphasizes that viral or unusual stunts should not be considered safe simply because someone appears capable of performing them. Physical reactions can differ from person to person, and even a harmless act in a short video can pose very serious risks.
Social media users often face more unusual challenges and stunts designed to get people’s attention. Health and safety officials and trainers always suggest that people avoid copying dangerous activities, like tobacco, fire, chemicals, or extreme physical exertion.
While the man’s ability to do such an unusual thing may have been interesting, the health effects of this incident are more important. Smoking multiple tobacco products simultaneously and through the nose shouldn’t be a joke of a hobby.
The incident has once more driven home the need for greater awareness of tobacco-related health risks. Rather than imitate smoking stunts, people are warned to avoid tobacco products completely and seek professional help if they are struggling to quit.
The stunt reported in the report may seem unusual, but it also demonstrates how entertainment-oriented challenges are sometimes accompanied by potentially hazardous behaviour.
