Kids More Apt to Smoke If Mom Did Whil... ( Research suggests biological changes ...)

Kids More Apt to Smoke If Mom Did While Pregnant

Date:5/19/2009

Research suggests biological changes take place in the womb

TUESDAY, May 19 (HealthDay News) -- Smoking while pregnant "biologically primes" the unborn child to become a regular smoker as a teen and young adult, according to a theory put forth by University of Arizona researchers.

"Somehow smoke is changing the brain chemistry," said the lead researcher, Dr. Roni Grad, an associate professor of clinical pediatrics at the university.

"If you are exposed to smoking prenatally or in the early years of life, you are much more likely to be a chronic smoker at the age of 22," Grad said.

In fact, these children are four times more likely to become regular smokers, according to the research, which was to be presented May 19 at the American Thoracic Society's international conference in San Diego.

For the study, Grad's team used data from the Tucson Children's Respiratory Study to see whether a mother's smoking during pregnancy and during her child's early years affected whether the child smoked later on.

The researchers assessed maternal smoking during pregnancy and when infants were 1.5 months and 1.5 years old and again when the children were 6, 9 and 11 years old. They then looked at the children's smoking behavior when they were ages 16 and 22.

They found that women who smoked during pregnancy and during their children's early years were more likely to have kids who smoked at age 22. This proved true whether the mother smoked or did not smoke during the child's school years.

In addition, the children of mothers who smoked during pregnancy and their early years were less likely to quit smoking than were the offspring of mothers who never smoked or who started smoking when their children were school-age.

The impact of early maternal smoking was not affected by whether the children's fathers smoked or by peer pressure during adolescence, the study found.

"Nobo
'/>"/>

0

GOOD

Page: 1 2 3
Related medicine news :

1. Another Reason Not to Smoke While Pregnant: Birth Defects
2. Teens who see more smoking in movies may have increased risk of becoming established smokers
3. Smokers More Likely to Develop Dementia
4. Fresh Air Campaign to Showcase Minnesotans Love of Smoke-Free Air
5. Health and Business Groups Launch Ad Campaign About Need for Comprehensive Smoke-Free Law in Pennsylvania
6. Acting Surgeon General Announces National Initiatives to Protect Children by Reducing Exposure to Secondhand Smoke
7. Penn School of Medicine receives $2.3 million to study biomarkers of cigarette smoke exposure
8. Secondhand smoke increases teen test failure
9. Help is Available for Smokers Who Want to Quit as Minnesotas Smoke-Free Law Takes Effect Oct. 1
10. Maryland, Minnesota Go Smoke-free Oct. 1 - Pennsylvania Overdue in Following Suit
11. First Puff Can Turn Kids Into Smokers: Study

Post Your Comments:

Kids More Apt to Smoke If Mom Did Whil...( Research suggests biological changes ...),Health