Moms smoking during pregnancy increases preemies' breathing problems: study
30.08.2008 00:02
Health
- Source: cbc.ca
New research indicates premature infants whose mothers smoked during pregnancy had a higher heart rate and more trouble breathing than preemies whose mothers didn't smoke. The study by researchers at the University of Calgary — the first to look at the effects of prenatal cigarette smoke exposure on infants' heart rate and breathing responses — is the cover story of the Sept. 1 issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. The team looked at 22 pre-term infants born at between 28 and 32 weeks; 12 had mothers who smoked five or more cigarettes daily during their pregnancy while the mothers of the other 10 did not smoke. Dr. Shabih Hasan, a pediatrics professor and co-author, said they found the preemies whose mothers smoked would pause their breathing and be slow to recover from it to breathe normally. They also exhibited higher heart rates than the premature babies whose mothers did not smoke. Increased risk for sudden infant death syndromeHasan said smoking during pregnancy creates two significant risk factors for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). "Not only does it raise the likelihood of a mother having a pre-term baby, who are already among the most vulnerable to SIDS, but it increases those infants' susceptibility to SIDS even further," he said Friday. "We also know that the smoke-exposed babies or fetuses when they become children, they also have developmental and behavioural problems." Sarah Spensley, one of the 10 non-smoking mothers who took part in the study, with her daughter Leah who was born eight weeks premature, said she hopes expectant mothers take the findings to heart. "I think the more information that's out, the better and we can only hope that people take that information and use it to the best that they can." Story Tools: E-MAIL | PRINT | Text Size: SMLXL | REPORT TYPO | SEND YOUR FEEDBACKRelatedInternal LinksNicotine patch may be safer option during pregnancyAudio Tim Devlin reports: Study shows smoking by mothers during pregnancy affects preemies' breathing, heart rate (Runs: 0:59) Play: Real Media »External LinksShort of the University of Calgary study(Note: CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external sites - links will open in new window) Health HeadlinesDeath linked to cheese recall in Quebec One person has died and 87 cases of salmonella food poisoning have been linked to three brands of contaminated cheese in Quebec, provincial health authorities said Friday in announcing a recall.Benefits of flu shots for reducing deaths less than thought: studyThe flu shot does help protect against specific strains of influenza but its ability to help prevent deaths among the elderly may have been exaggerated, a new study suggests. B.C. death raises listeriosis outbreak toll to 9The nationwide outbreak of listeriosis is being blamed for a ninth death, the first outside Ontario, public health officials said Friday afternoon.Moms smoking during pregnancy increases preemies' breathing problems: studyNew research indicates premature infants whose mothers smoked during pregnancy had a higher heart rate and more trouble breathing than preemies whose mothers didn't smoke.Researchers track Alzheimer's-linked protein in live brainsScientists for the first time have peered into people's brains to directly measure the ebb and flow of a substance notorious for its role in Alzheimer's disease. Findings may have implications for how the brain-injured are tracked in intensive-care units. Health FeaturesVIDEOListeriosisFollowing the path of the listeriosis outbreak (8:37)YOUR INTERVIEWListeriosisDr. Allison McGeer takes questions on the outbreakVIDEOListeriosis Dr. Dara Maker answers questions about outbreak (4:35)IN DEPTHMedical isotopesThe backbone of nuclear medicineIN DEPTHWest Nile NUTRITIONSchool lunchesHealthy back-to-school lunch tipsPeople who read this also read …
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