We all know the harmful risk of smoking. But do you know that smoking in pregnancy and even second-hand smoke, can hurt the mother, her child and even her grandchildren? According to research, second-hand cigarette smoke exposure during pregnancy has damaging effects that could last for generations.
A research was conducted on animals to study the effects of second-hand smoke. And the results were surprising. It was observed that second-hand smoke exposure not only damaged lung development in the fetus but it also adversely affected second-generation animals that had never been exposed to smoke.
There have been previous studies which have warned that second-hand smoke during pregnancy can cause babies to be born prematurely or with congenital disabilities, including cleft palate, cleft lip, or both. More infants after birth are prone to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome after the exposure to smoke. Smoking during pregnancy also increases the child’s risk of developing lung conditions like asthma, ear infections, bronchitis, and pneumonia.
However, women across the United States have reduced smoking during their pregnancy. But the numbers of women who still smoke during pregnancy are higher among younger women (20-24). It has been due to the result of warnings and educational campaigns by the government.
To promote more of these campaigns, health authorities have proposed 13 new warnings for cigarette packs and ads. These include the two warning notices on the effects of smoking and children:
- Warning: Smoking in pregnancy stunts fetal growth.
- Warning: Tobacco smoke can affect your children.
Researchers are warning that the dangers of smoking during pregnancy are more long-term than commonly thought. The study observed that smoke-related defects in the enzymes produced hydrogen sulphide, which acts as a vital signal transmitter [messenger] regulating organ development. And the smoke-induced defect found in these enzymes was transmitted to second-generation [grandchildren] animals.”
In the future, these enzymes could potentially serve as a biomarker for determining the susceptibility of asthma in children.
Moreover, this research also has significant implications in increasing public awareness against any form of tobacco smoking, conventional or contemporary, including vapes, e-cigarettes, and hookahs or pods, particularly in pregnant women.
