Investigate the Relationship between Carbon Monoxide Exposure and Hypertension

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 18 views

Introduction

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a major health concern that affects millions of people worldwide. It is a condition characterized by elevated systolic blood pressure (more than 140 mmHg) and diastolic blood pressure (more than 90 mmHg). Hypertension is a silent killer, and if left untreated, it can lead to serious health complications, including heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure. Various factors contribute to the development of hypertension, including genetics, age, obesity, unhealthy lifestyle, stress, and poor food consumption patterns.

Environmental Factors and Hypertension

One of the environmental factors that has a significant impact on blood pressure is exposure to carbon monoxide (CO) gas. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that can be produced by incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, including gasoline, diesel, and natural gas. Prolonged exposure to high concentrations of CO can lead to cardiovascular disease, including hypertension. In the context of motorcycle workshops, mechanics are often exposed to high levels of CO due to the use of gasoline-powered equipment and vehicles.

Study Objectives and Methodology

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between characteristics, lifestyle, and exposure to carbon monoxide with mechanical blood pressure among mechanics in motorcycle workshops in Medan City. The study employed an observational design with a cross-sectional approach, involving 70 mechanics from 12 workshops in six sub-districts. Data on mechanical characteristics and lifestyles, including smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, and sodium intake, were collected through a questionnaire. To measure exposure to carbon monoxide, the intake formula was used in the ARKL study. Mechanical blood pressure was measured directly twice with a five-minute interval using a sphygmomanometer.

Results

The results of this study showed that 54.3 percent of mechanics had high blood pressure. One workshop was found to have a CO concentration in the air that exceeded the quality standard value, which was 31,329.2 μg/nm³. The study found a significant relationship between the history of hypertension (p = 0.005), smoking habit (p = 0.001), the level of physical activity (pal) (p = 0.006), and sodium intake (p = 0.015) with mechanical blood pressure. However, there was no significant relationship between carbon monoxide exposure and systolic pressure (p = 0.067) or diastolic (p = 0.606).

Discussion

The findings of this study highlight the importance of lifestyle factors in contributing to the risk of hypertension among mechanics in motorcycle workshops. The results suggest that an unhealthy lifestyle, including smoking, low physical activity, and high sodium intake, can significantly increase the risk of hypertension. The study also found that a history of hypertension is a significant predictor of mechanical blood pressure.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this study highlights the need for mechanics in motorcycle workshops to adopt a healthy lifestyle to reduce the risk of hypertension. The study recommends increasing physical activity, controlling smoking habits, and reducing sodium intake. Regular health checks and hypertensive drugs for those who have been diagnosed with high blood pressure are also highly recommended. Increasing awareness about health risks associated with lifestyle and environmental exposure is an important step in preventing hypertension. Through this research, it is hoped that the mechanics in Medan can take proactive steps in maintaining their health, as well as helping to reduce the incidence of hypertension among workers in this field.

Recommendations

Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations are made:

Health Education: Provide health education to mechanics in motorcycle workshops on the risks of hypertension and the importance of adopting a healthy lifestyle.
Regular Health Checks: Encourage mechanics to undergo regular health checks to detect hypertension early.
Healthy Lifestyle: Promote a healthy lifestyle among mechanics, including increasing physical activity, controlling smoking habits, and reducing sodium intake.
Carbon Monoxide Exposure: Reduce exposure to carbon monoxide in motorcycle workshops by using alternative fuels and improving ventilation systems.
Research: Conduct further research on the relationship between carbon monoxide exposure and hypertension among mechanics in motorcycle workshops.

Limitations

This study has several limitations, including:

Small Sample Size: The study involved a small sample size of 70 mechanics, which may not be representative of the larger population.
Cross-Sectional Design: The study employed a cross-sectional design, which may not allow for causal inferences.
Measurement Error: The study relied on self-reported data, which may be subject to measurement error.

Future Directions

Future studies should aim to:

Investigate the Relationship between Carbon Monoxide Exposure and Hypertension: Conduct further research on the relationship between carbon monoxide exposure and hypertension among mechanics in motorcycle workshops.
Develop Interventions to Reduce Hypertension: Develop interventions to reduce hypertension among mechanics in motorcycle workshops, including health education, regular health checks, and healthy lifestyle promotion.
Improve Ventilation Systems: Improve ventilation systems in motorcycle workshops to reduce exposure to carbon monoxide.

Q: What is the main objective of this study?

A: The main objective of this study is to investigate the relationship between characteristics, lifestyle, and exposure to carbon monoxide with mechanical blood pressure among mechanics in motorcycle workshops in Medan City.

Q: What is the significance of this study?

A: This study is significant because it highlights the importance of lifestyle factors in contributing to the risk of hypertension among mechanics in motorcycle workshops. The study also emphasizes the need for mechanics to adopt a healthy lifestyle to reduce the risk of hypertension.

Q: What are the key findings of this study?

A: The key findings of this study include:

54.3 percent of mechanics had high blood pressure.
There was a significant relationship between the history of hypertension, smoking habit, level of physical activity, and sodium intake with mechanical blood pressure.
There was no significant relationship between carbon monoxide exposure and systolic pressure or diastolic.

Q: What are the implications of this study?

A: The implications of this study are that mechanics in motorcycle workshops should adopt a healthy lifestyle, including increasing physical activity, controlling smoking habits, and reducing sodium intake. Regular health checks and hypertensive drugs for those who have been diagnosed with high blood pressure are also highly recommended.

Q: What are the limitations of this study?

A: The limitations of this study include:

Small sample size
Cross-sectional design
Measurement error

Q: What are the recommendations of this study?

A: The recommendations of this study include:

Health education for mechanics in motorcycle workshops on the risks of hypertension and the importance of adopting a healthy lifestyle.
Regular health checks for mechanics to detect hypertension early.
Promotion of a healthy lifestyle among mechanics, including increasing physical activity, controlling smoking habits, and reducing sodium intake.
Reduction of exposure to carbon monoxide in motorcycle workshops by using alternative fuels and improving ventilation systems.

Q: What are the future directions of this study?

A: The future directions of this study include:

Investigating the relationship between carbon monoxide exposure and hypertension among mechanics in motorcycle workshops.
Developing interventions to reduce hypertension among mechanics in motorcycle workshops, including health education, regular health checks, and healthy lifestyle promotion.
Improving ventilation systems in motorcycle workshops to reduce exposure to carbon monoxide.

Q: What are the potential applications of this study?

A: The potential applications of this study include:

Development of health education programs for mechanics in motorcycle workshops.
Implementation of regular health checks for mechanics.
Promotion of healthy lifestyle among mechanics.
Reduction of exposure to carbon monoxide in motorcycle workshops.

Q: What are the potential benefits of this study?

A: The potential benefits of this study include:

Reduction of hypertension among mechanics in motorcycle workshops.
Improvement of health outcomes among mechanics.
Reduction of healthcare costs associated with hypertension.
Improvement of quality of life among mechanics.

Q: What are the potential limitations of this study?

A: The potential limitations of this study include:

Small sample size.
Cross-sectional design.
Measurement error.
Limited generalizability to other populations.

Q: What are the potential future research directions?

A: The potential future research directions include:

Investigating the relationship between carbon monoxide exposure and hypertension among mechanics in motorcycle workshops.
Developing interventions to reduce hypertension among mechanics in motorcycle workshops, including health education, regular health checks, and healthy lifestyle promotion.
Improving ventilation systems in motorcycle workshops to reduce exposure to carbon monoxide.
Investigating the impact of other environmental factors on hypertension among mechanics in motorcycle workshops.