ASSESSMENT ON AWARENESS OF TOBACCO SMOKING AND ITS RISK IN HYPERTENSION

Aswathy Jyothy*, Dr. Merlin N. J., Prof. (Dr.) Shaiju S. Dharan and Almaja Lekshmi

ABSTRACT

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the most serious among all human diseases. Cigarette smoking and exposure to second hand smoke is an emerging risk factor for CVD, comprising 10% of all CVD cases according to World Health Organization. The main aim of the study is to assess the awareness about tobacco smoking and its risk for hypertension and other CVDs among people in South Kerala. Objective: To obtain the qualitative and quantitative data regarding the awareness and prevalence of tobacco smoking and its risk for CVDs in South Kerala and to assess other risk factors leading to CVDs. Methodology: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted among 300 males of age group 18- 65 years in South Kerala, and data was analyzed by statistical tools. Result: Total 300 males voluntarily participated in the study, among which 37% (n=111) were hypertensive smokers and 27% (n=81) were hypertensive non-smokers, while 12.66% (n=38) were normotensive smokers and 23% (n=70) were normotensive non-smokers. In this, 41.86% responded that food habit is the major risk factor for hypertension, followed by smoking (29.23%). Among the hypertensive patients (64%), only 34.33% followed healthy diet in spite of being recommended by health care professionals to control BP, and only 54% are properly taking medicines. Discussion: Based on the study results, most of the males who are hypertensive are smokers and do not follow healthy diet or take proper medicines, even though they are aware about the complications. People need to be educated well about the cardiac complications due to improper control of blood pressure. Conclusion: Through this study an awareness can be provided on the complications of tobacco use and importance of medication adherence and diet to prevent CVDs.

Keywords: hypertension, smoking, cardiac complications.