What is Tobacco?

Tobacco leaves are known to have a chemical Nicotine in it. The presence of 2-8% of Nicotine in this plant resulted in its wide spread use in preparation of various Tobacco products like Cigarette, Beedi, Pipe, or Cigar, Chewing Tobacco, Snuff, etc.

The various medicinal properties of Tobacco are as Diuretic, Discutient, Expectorant, Sedative, Sialagogue, Emetic and Antiseptic agent. However Tobacco use can result in Addiction therefore its use for the above mentioned purposes is largely being avoided.
There is no safe limit for consumption of Tobacco products. The various diseases that can occur on Tobacco use include Heart attacks, Cancer, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Edema and many more.

Tobacco is equally harmful to both males as well as females. However if Tobacco is consumed by a pregnant women than it can even harm to the unborn baby and may result in serious respiratory & circulatory defects or the infant may born with underweight body, smaller chest & head. There is also a greater risk of miscarriage, premature birth and even more fatal consequences.

According to WHO Reports Tobacco uses causes more than 5.4 million deaths per year. Many countries have implemented various forms of rules and regulations to control the sale of Tobacco and its products. This overall resulted in some decline in the use of Tobacco products especially in developed countries but more needs to be done in developing countries.

Recent Surveys have indicated that in developing countries the poor people who are addicted to the Tobacco products are spending more than 15% part of their total income in purchasing of these products. Researches have also indicated that Passive Smoking (inhalation of smoke which in turn is released by a Tobacco Smoker) is even more harmful than Active Smoking.