Study on the adverse impact of al-Qat in Yemen

A study prepared by heart-surgery doctor at Sanaa University, Ahmad al-Mitrib, proved the consequences of chewing Qat, a widespread habit among Yemenis. The study said that chewing this plant causes heart-attacks.

Al-Mitirb added that his study proved that the main element in al-Qat, "Cathinon," causes symptoms that lead to heart problems.

The Yemeni doctor made his research in a factory in Britain and presented the results at a conference for heart surgeons held in Aden this month. He added that he is preparing a statistics on the number of those who died because of Qat in Yemen.

Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh had led a campaign to eliminate the habit of chewing Qat. He bans the police and army personnel from taking Qat during working hours.

A study made by the Yemeni government that was released in February said that 90% of Yemen's men, 40% of its women and 30% of boys under 15 are accustomed to chewing Qat on a daily basis or at least once a week.