Abstract
Author(s): Roan Mukherjee1 andAmal Chatterjee2
In this study, the differences in total erythrocyte count, total leukocyte count, packed cell volume, haemoglobin levels, differential leukocyte count, total serum cholesterol level and blood glucose levels were comparatively evaluated between control group (n=17), smokers (n=19) and gutka consumers (n=24).Thus the study included a total of 60 subjects. Healthy male students (age 20-30 years) of Hazaribag district, Jharkhand formed the study subjects. All the subjects had normal Body Mass Index and were from middle class family. Standard procedures were used to determine all the parameters under study. It was found that in comparison to control group both smokers and gutka consumers experienced the following : significant elevation (< 0.001) in total erythrocyte count, total leukocyte count, packed cell volume, haemoglobin level, neutrophil percentage, total serum cholesterol level and blood glucose level. Significant reduction in the percentage of monocyte (< 0.05) and lymphocyte (< 0.001). Majority of the variation of these parameters between smokers and gutka consumers were not significant (> 0.05). It may be concluded that smoking tobacco and consumption of gutka had deleterious effect on haematological parameters and biochemical parameters of the sample studied. The observed increased leukocyte count reflected that inflammatory responses had already started in the sample studied. Awareness is need to stop tobacco usage and safeguard health of youths.