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Kenyan farmer James Ntonyi chews khat leaves at his father’s farm in Meru, 170 kilometres northeast of Nairobi, January 2006. Khat chewers are at greater risk of heart disease and liver damage, according to a paper published by Britain’s Royal Society of Medicine, which says doctors should be trained to spot harm caused by this habit. |
A paper published in next month’s issue of the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine has warned about the severe effects of khat chewing and called for increased awareness among doctors and the public.
Khat leaves are used recreationally by migrant communities from East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, particularly by Somalis.
“Khat chewing releases amphetamine-like ingredients, cathinone and cathin which release serotonin and dopamine in the central nervous system,” said Dr Sagar Saha of London’s Heart Hospital.
“Long term use results in increasing risk of heart attack, liver damage as well gingivitis and tooth loss. Research also indicates that heavy khat chewing increases the risk of oesophageal cancer.
“There is little medical awareness of the harmful effects of khat and we need to put that right urgently,” he said.
Khat (also know as qat or chat) is the fresh leaves of Catha edulis, a shrub grown in East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.
The legal status of khat, which is banned in the USA, Canada, Norway and Sweden, was reviewed by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs late last year who advised against a ban.
The paper by Dr Sagar Saha and Dr Clare Dollery describe the case of a 33 year old man who used khat heavily. The man was admitted to hospital with a heart attack and developed severe irreversible damage to his heart muscle.
Dr Kamran Abbasi, editor of the JRSM, said in the absence of a ban on khat a public awareness campaign was necessary.
“Unless there is a public awareness campaign, khat will continue to cause serious harm to the health and prospects of people from these disadvantaged communities. The difficulty is that khat is seen as an integral part of cultural life for these communities, and any campaign will have to be culturally sensitive.” ‘Severe ischaemic cardiomyopathy associated with khat chewing’ by S Saha and C Dollery is published in the June 2006 issue (Vol. 99) of the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine.
JRSM is the flagship journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. It has been published continuously since 1809. Its Editor is Dr Kamran Abbasi. http://www.jrsm.org.
Founded in 1805, the Royal Society of Medicine is an independent organisation that promotes the exchange of knowledge, information and ideas in medical science and continued improvement in human health. http://www.rsm.ac.uk
Source: Medical News Today, May 27, 2006
