Tobacco is a plant from America, with a strong smell, thick stem and many branches, from which large leaves with marked nerves emerge. It belongs to the Solanaceae family ( Solanaceae ), and to the genus Nicotina ( Nicotiana ). The most cultivated and economically important species, known as common tobacco, is Nicotiana tabacum.
Tobacco contains nicotine, a toxic substance that produces strong addiction, this stimulates the feeling of satisfaction and well-being in the brain and provides euphoria to the individual who consumes it.
With the rolled leaves of this plant, cigarettes, cigars and pipe tobacco are made, which are smoked. Tobacco can also be sniffed and chewed, to sniff the tobacco is powdered or finely cut, and the chew is shredded or arranged into long twisting strips. This plant is also used to obtain nicotine products, such as insecticides or medicines.
For centuries Native Americans have used tobacco as a medicine, hallucinogen, and as an offering to their spirits. Later its use spread in Europe, and later to China, Japan and the west coast of Africa. Today in all countries this peculiar plant is consumed.
The chronic assimilation of nicotine has harmful effects on health, specifically on the circulatory system (arterial hypertension), on the respiratory system (chronic bronchitis, emphysema, lung cancer), digestive system (diarrhea, constipation), on sight and the nervous system, among others.
Studies show that there is a higher mortality rate among smokers than among non-smokers, as well as a higher percentage of cancer in the lung, mouth, nose, larynx and esophagus among smokers. Whatever the consumption of tobacco, it contains a large number of components, of which nicotine and its derivatives, tar, carbon oxide, irritants and others, are known to be carcinogenic.
At present, tobacco control measures have been established, there are campaigns in different countries in which smoking is prohibited on radio and television, cigarette packs include the consumer warning of the danger of consuming them, the prohibition of smoking in certain public places, among others.
