THE EFFECT OF NICOTINE GUM ON BLOOD PRESSURE AND HEART RATE

Abstract  INTRODUCTION: Smoking is an important risk factor of coronary artery disease. Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) for smoking cessation should be considered, especially in coronary patients. methods: Twenty-four healthy smokers, smoking an average of ۲۰ cigarettes a day for ۱۵ years and with moderate cigarette dependence (according to the Fagershtrum questionnaire score) were randomly assigned to ۳ groups of ۸ and followed up for ۵ days. The first group consisted only of cigarette smokers. The smokers in the second group were given a piece of nicotine gum every two hours. The smokers in the third group were given a piece of non-nicotine gum (placebo) every ۲ hours. The subjects' blood pressure and heart rate were checked ۱۲ times during four daily intervals (between ۷ AM and ۱۲ PM, ۱ PM and ۶ PM, ۷ PM and ۱۲ PM, ۱ AM and ۶ AM) and recorded in related forms. RESULTS: Systolic pressure was not significantly different in the three groups, but diastolic blood pressure of cigarette smokers was evidently higher than that of subjects who used nicotine and non-nicotine (placebo) gums. DISCUSSION: Heart rate in smokers was higher than in nicotine and placebo users (P<۰.۰۰۰۱). It seems that nicotine gum does not act as a cardiovascular disease risk factor. Hence in the context of smoking cessation efforts, its prescription to smokers with cardiovascular disease is recommended.Keywords • Risk factor • NICO rest gum • Smoking • Systolic blood pressure • Diastolic blood pressure • Heart beat • CVD