Study of Some Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Tobacco Chewers and Non Tobacco Chewers.

ABSTRACT

Tobacco chewing is known causative factor of cardiovascular disorders and cancer. In India tobacco and gutkha chewing is very common. In present study effect of tobacco chewing was studied on other cardiovascular risk factors. This is comparative study done to see the association of smokeless tobacco consumption with blood pressure, heart rate, BMI and serum cotinine in adult male tobacco chewers. Methods: In present study 175 apparently healthy males were selected. Out of these 80 were tobacco non chewers and 95 were tobacco chewers. Parameters such as BMI, B.P., heart rate and serum cotinine were measured in both the groups. Result: No significant difference were observed among tobacco chewers and controls for heart rate and BMI, however, significant increase was observed in systolic and diastolic blood pressure (p > 0.001) in tobacco chewers as compared to tobacco non chewers. Conclusion: Significantly increased values of systolic and diastolic blood pressure indicated that tobacco consumption in any form increases the risk for cardiovascular diseases.