The effect of Qat chewing on blood pressure and heart rate in healthy volunteers.
The leaves of the Qat plant (Catha edulis Forsk., Celastraceae) which contain amphetamine like compounds are widely chewed in Yemen and East Africa for their pleasurable stimulant properties. There are also a number of unwanted side-effects and this paper studies the effect on heart rate and blood pressure in 80 healthy volunteers. During a 3-h period of chewing fresh Qat leaves there was a significant and progressive rise in systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate, and levels had not returned to baseline 1 h after chewing had ceased. Further studies are needed on possible cardiovascular morbidity associated with regular Qat chewing.
Hassan
N A
NA
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Sciences, Sana'a University, Sana'a Republic of Yemen.
Gunaid
A A
AA
Abdo-Rabbo
A A
AA
Abdel-Kader
Z Y
ZY
al-Mansoob
M A
MA
Awad
A Y
AY
Murray-Lyon
I M
IM
D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D029754:Catha; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008409:Mastication; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors; D015006:Yemen
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D010936:Plant Extracts