Pregnant smokers up baby’s asthma risk

Children whose mothers smoked during pregnancy may have an increased risk of asthma – even if they were not exposed to secondhand smoke later, shows data from 21,600 European children. Though secondhand smoke worsens children’s asthma symptoms, and raises their risk of developing the lung disease, it’s been less clear if smoking during pregnancy is linked to asthma.

The study, found that children were two thirds more likely to have asthma by age six, unlike kids whose moms didn’t smoke during pregnancy. It also increases the risks of miscarriage, low birth weight and certain birth defects complications.

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SUNDAY HINDUSTAN TIMES 26AUGUST-2012