Khat Use: History and Heart Failure
Recent reports suggest that 20 million people worldwide are regularly using khat as a stimulant, even though the habit of chewing khat is known to cause serious health issues. Historical evidence suggests khat use has existed since the 13th century in Ethiopia and the southwestern Arabian regions ev...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Oman Medical Specialty Board
2015-03-01
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| Series: | Oman Medical Journal |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.omjournal.org/fultext_PDF.aspx?DetailsID=617&type=fultext |
| _version_ | 1818550528810942464 |
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| author | Ayman El-Menyar Ahammed Mekkodathil Hassan Al-Thani Ahmed Al-Motarreb |
| author_facet | Ayman El-Menyar Ahammed Mekkodathil Hassan Al-Thani Ahmed Al-Motarreb |
| author_sort | Ayman El-Menyar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Recent reports suggest that 20 million people worldwide are regularly using khat as a stimulant, even though the habit of chewing khat is known to cause serious health issues. Historical evidence suggests khat use has existed since the 13th century in Ethiopia and the southwestern Arabian regions even before the cultivation and use of coffee. In the past three decades, its availability and use spread all over the world including the United States and Europe. Most of the consumers in the Western world are immigrant groups from Eastern Africa or the Middle East. The global transport and availability of khat has been enhanced by the development of synthetic forms of its active component. The World Health Organization considers khat a drug of abuse since it causes a range of health problems. However, it remains lawful in some countries. Khat use has long been a part of Yemeni culture and is used in virtually every social occasion. The main component of khat is cathinone, which is structurally and functionally similar to amphetamine and cocaine. Several studies have demonstrated that khat chewing has unfavorable cardiovascular effects. The effect on the myocardium could be explained by its effect on the heart rate, blood pressure, its vasomotor effect on the coronary vessels, and its amphetamine–like effects. However, its direct effect on the myocardium needs further elaboration. To date, there are few articles that contribute death among khat chewers to khat-induced heart failure. Further studies are needed to address the risk factors in khat chewers that may explain khat-induced cardiotoxicity, cardiomyopathy, and heart failure. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T08:47:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8173240595044e1b8fa5cd2c0eececea |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-768X 2070-5204 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T08:47:40Z |
| publishDate | 2015-03-01 |
| publisher | Oman Medical Specialty Board |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Oman Medical Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-8173240595044e1b8fa5cd2c0eececea2022-12-22T00:30:25ZengOman Medical Specialty BoardOman Medical Journal1999-768X2070-52042015-03-01302778210.5001/omj.2015.18Khat Use: History and Heart FailureAyman El-Menyar0Ahammed Mekkodathil1Hassan Al-Thani2Ahmed Al-Motarreb3Clinical Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, Doha, Qatar; Cardiology Unit, Ahmed Maher Teaching Hospital, Egypt; Clinical Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, QatarClinical Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, QatarVascular surgery, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, QatarDepartment of Cardiology, Sana’a University, Sana’a, YemenRecent reports suggest that 20 million people worldwide are regularly using khat as a stimulant, even though the habit of chewing khat is known to cause serious health issues. Historical evidence suggests khat use has existed since the 13th century in Ethiopia and the southwestern Arabian regions even before the cultivation and use of coffee. In the past three decades, its availability and use spread all over the world including the United States and Europe. Most of the consumers in the Western world are immigrant groups from Eastern Africa or the Middle East. The global transport and availability of khat has been enhanced by the development of synthetic forms of its active component. The World Health Organization considers khat a drug of abuse since it causes a range of health problems. However, it remains lawful in some countries. Khat use has long been a part of Yemeni culture and is used in virtually every social occasion. The main component of khat is cathinone, which is structurally and functionally similar to amphetamine and cocaine. Several studies have demonstrated that khat chewing has unfavorable cardiovascular effects. The effect on the myocardium could be explained by its effect on the heart rate, blood pressure, its vasomotor effect on the coronary vessels, and its amphetamine–like effects. However, its direct effect on the myocardium needs further elaboration. To date, there are few articles that contribute death among khat chewers to khat-induced heart failure. Further studies are needed to address the risk factors in khat chewers that may explain khat-induced cardiotoxicity, cardiomyopathy, and heart failure.http://www.omjournal.org/fultext_PDF.aspx?DetailsID=617&type=fultextCathaCoronary DiseasemMyocardiumHeart FailureCathinone |
| spellingShingle | Ayman El-Menyar Ahammed Mekkodathil Hassan Al-Thani Ahmed Al-Motarreb Khat Use: History and Heart Failure Oman Medical Journal Catha Coronary Diseasem Myocardium Heart Failure Cathinone |
| title | Khat Use: History and Heart Failure |
| title_full | Khat Use: History and Heart Failure |
| title_fullStr | Khat Use: History and Heart Failure |
| title_full_unstemmed | Khat Use: History and Heart Failure |
| title_short | Khat Use: History and Heart Failure |
| title_sort | khat use history and heart failure |
| topic | Catha Coronary Diseasem Myocardium Heart Failure Cathinone |
| url | http://www.omjournal.org/fultext_PDF.aspx?DetailsID=617&type=fultext |
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