Abstract

VARIOUS COMPLICATIONS OF TOBACCO (NICOTINA TABACUM) TO THE USERS IN INDIA AND ITS SOCIO ECONOMIC IMPACT

*Prof. Dr. S. K. Biswal and Prof. Dr. Surendra Kumar Biswal

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Abstract

According to modern medical science as well as in Ayurveda Tobacco is regarded as Cardiac poison. Tobacco is a most common drug abused by not only the village people but also it is often used in various modes by the urban people from ancient to present India. The tobacco hazards occur according to the doses, frequencies, health status of the users and the environment. Nicotiana tabacum or tambakhu belong to the family Solanaceae and is originally a native plant of South America. Nicot of Nismas introduced it to France from where Spanish traders took it to Philippines and reached India via China. However it is now widely cultivated all over India. The dried leaves of tobacco are used in India by almost all class of people. The people use them either in form of smoke or snuff, or chew them with lime or alone or with beetle. The leaves are used for manufacturing cigars (cheroots) or cigarettes. Keeping in view to its toxic effect and because mass people are involved due to lack of knowledge regarding the consequence, an awareness should be created among the users. In order to renounce this drug it should be banned like other toxic drugs.

Keywords: Tobacco, nicotine, cancer, cardiac arrhythmia.