Health and wellbeing Understanding tobacco and its risks

Tobacco comes in many forms. All forms are harmful. Tobacco can cause cancer and many other health problems.

Tobacco is addictive because it contains nicotine. Nicotine is a chemical that makes your body want more.

Types of tobacco

There are two main types:

Smoked tobacco, such as:

  • cigarettes
  • cigars
  • pipes
  • bidis

Smokeless tobacco, such as:

  • chewing tobacco
  • paan
  • snuff

Common product names

Many tobacco products are known by other names. These include:

  • Waterpipes, shisha, hookah, hubble‑bubble – tobacco with added flavourings
  • Zarda – tobacco often added to paan
  • Gutkha – processed tobacco with sweeteners
  • Scented chewing tobacco – tobacco with added flavours
  • Naswar, nas, niswar – tobacco mixed with slaked lime, herbs or oils
  • Chillam – heated tobacco
  • Paan – may contain tobacco, areca nut (supari), slaked lime and betel leaf
  • Snuff, snus – powdered or ground tobacco
  • Khaini – tobacco with slaked lime paste, sometimes with areca nut

Get help to stop using tobacco

If you use any type of tobacco, the best step you can take for your health is to quit. You do not have to do this alone.

Be Smoke Free Manchester is a free local service that can help you stop. They offer:

  • face‑to‑face support
  • group sessions
  • phone support
  • confidential advice
  • stop‑smoking aids
  • a personal mentor to guide you

Quitting can give you:

  • more energy
  • better health
  • more money to spend on other things

Start your quit journey

Visit Be Smoke Free Manchester to get support, or call 0161 823 4157.

 

Learn about the common myths and facts about tobacco.

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