PHYSICAL HEALTH HAZARDS AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF TOBACCO SMOKING: A REVIEW UNDER THE VISION OF MODERN SCIENCE AND TRADITIONAL UNANI SYSTEM OF MEDICINE

Use of tobacco and health problems due to its smoking is a major topic of concern in todays world. Tobacco use causes serious cardio-respiratory diseases which result in low life expectancy. It is found that increased mortality due to lung cancer is associated with cigarette smoking in every country. Smoking leads to cancers, pulmonary diseases, cardiac diseases and stroke. Tobacco smoking causes psychological dependence due to the nicotine present in the tobacco. This addictive behavior is due to the addictive character of nicotine and some other factors like social, personal, economic and political influences. According to Unani System of Medicine, consumption of tobacco is harmful for cardiac and mental health. Use of tobacco causes different types of respiratory disorders it increases the production of phlegm (Balgham) in trachea, bronchus and lungs. The literature available in Unani Medicine regarding tobacco also indicates that it causes physical and mental illness such as cough, palpitation, pulmonary tuberculosis, constipation, impotence, impairment of vision, vertigo/giddiness, amnesia and insomnia etc.