[Tobacco smoking among hospitalised patients with arterial hypertension].

Currently 33% of the Polish adult population smoke tobacco (42% males and 25% females), which is a serious issue, particularly in the context of cardiovascular diseases. A study of the extent of smoking among patients with arterial hypertension (AH) served as the basis for the present article. The studied group comprised 100 patients hospitalised due to AH, 46 males and 54 females. A survey, aided by a specially designed questionnaire, was the method of the medical part of the study. It concentrated on health-related behaviour patterns conducive, or not, to AH treatment such as: systematic control of blood pressure, proper diet, physical activity, and tobacco smoking. The respondents were also asked to indicate the sources of their knowledge on the proper, in this context, lifestyle. The study revealed that 46.0% of the subjects smoked; most of them males, inhabitants of a large city (both genders), over 50-year-old, and with secondary school education. The majority of the group, while declaratively fully aware, thanks to the received information, of the necessity of the cessation of smoking - fails to react appropriately. Tobacco smoking constitutes a vital issue among the AH patients. The physician is not always the source of knowledge on the threats, associated with the addiction. The fact that 2/3 of the patients aware of the necessity of smoking cessation fails to do so is a reason for concern.