Babies’ Hearts Affected by Smoking Mothers

Babies would be born with an increased risk of congenital heart defects (CHDs) if their mothers has smoked in the first trimester of pregnancy, claims a recent study. The study published in the online journal, Pediatrics reports that researchers led by Clinton J. Alverson, of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta discovered the flow of blood from the lungs to the heart is affected. There is a definite link between smoking in the first trimester and an increased risk of secundum-type atrial septal defects, right ventricular outflow tract defects, pulmonary valve stenosis, truncus arteriosus, and levo-transposition of the great arteries.  There has also been a suspected connection between atrioventricular septal defects in infants who do not have Down syndrome and the mother’s smoking habits.

Mothers -to-be would definitely need to exercise caution if they want their babies to have healthy hearts.



Source-Medindia