one time exposure to secondhand smoke during pregnancy
one time exposure to secondhand smoking during pregnancy may cause birth defects such as cleft palate or other facial deformities. It also increases the risk of miscarriage and low birth weight babies. A study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology showed that pregnant women who were exposed to secondhand smoke had an increased risk of having children with heart disease. Secondhand smoke is harmful to both mother and child; therefore, pregnant women should avoid exposing themselves to tobacco smoke.
What is Secondhand Smoke?
one time to secondhand smoke during pregnancy: single exposure to secondhand smoke among children with asthma, single exposure to secondhand smoke among adolescent children, single exposure to secondhand smoke during pregnancy. A single exposure to environmental tobacco smoke.
Secondhand smoke is the smoke that comes out of someone else’s cigarette or cigar. It contains hundreds of chemicals called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are known carcinogens. These chemicals come from burning tobacco leaves and can cause serious health problems.
There are several types of secondhand smoke. In indoor environments, it is usually referred to as environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). Outside, it is often called outdoor air pollution.
one time exposure to secondhand smoke during pregnancy – A New Study Shows That It Can Damage Your Baby’s Brain And Body For Life. Increases Risk Of Low Birth Weight And Premature Delivery. One Time Exposure To Cigarette Smoking During Pregnancy May Increase Risk Of Stillbirth And Miscarriage In Women Who Are Not Smokers
Exposure to second-hand smoke during pregnancy
Secondhand smoke exposure during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm delivery, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Pregnant women are especially vulnerable to the effects of secondhand smoke because their developing fetuses are particularly sensitive to toxins.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that pregnant women avoid smoking and secondhand smoke exposure. If you do smoke, it’s best to stop now. You don’t want to put yourself or your baby at risk.
Facts
Secondhand smoke contains nicotine, a chemical known to cause cancer. Nicotine is found in cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and e-cigarettes. Exposure to secondhand smoke increases the risk of developing lung disease such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma attacks, and heart attack. In addition, it causes premature death among nonsmokers exposed to secondhand smoke.
Smoking during pregnancy poses serious risks to both mother and baby. Babies born to mothers who smoked while pregnant are more likely to suffer low birth weight, respiratory problems, sudden infant death syndrome, and ear infections. They are also more likely to develop allergies and asthma later in life. Smoking during pregnancy is linked to miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm delivery, and placental abruption.
Children living with smokers face similar health issues. Their exposure to secondhand smoke increases their chances of suffering from asthma, ear infections, and sudden infant death syndrome. They are also more prone to obesity and behavioral disorders.
How does second-hand smoke increase the risk of health problems?
Secondhand smoke contains many harmful chemicals which can cause serious health problems. These include heart disease, lung cancer, respiratory illnesses, asthma attacks, ear infections, sudden infant death syndrome, low birth weight babies, premature births, stillbirths, miscarriages, preterm deliveries, and even behavioral disorders such as autism.
The World Health Organization estimates that approximately 3 million deaths per year are caused by exposure to tobacco smoke. This includes about 600,000 deaths among children under five years old.
Pregnant women who live near busy roads have an elevated risk of miscarriage. A study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology found that pregnant women living within 500 meters of major roadways had a 40% greater chance of having a spontaneous abortion compared to those living farther away.
Women who smoke during pregnancy should quit immediately. Smoking increases the risk of miscarriage by up to 50%. If you do decide to continue smoking while pregnant, it is important to limit your exposure to secondhand smoke. You can reduce your exposure by moving far away from smokers and avoiding areas where there is heavy traffic.
Your Developing Baby and Smoke
Smoking during pregnancy poses serious risks to both you and your baby. If you’re pregnant, it’s important to know what smoking does to your developing baby. Learn about the effects of secondhand smoke and how to protect yourself and your unborn child from tobacco use.
Secondhand Smoke and Your Children’s Health
Smoking during pregnancy increases the chances of having a child with low birth weight, premature delivery, stillbirth, miscarriage, congenital malformations, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and childhood cancer. Secondhand smoke exposure can cause lung disease, heart disease, stroke, and even cancer. And it doesn’t just affect pregnant women; children exposed to secondhand smoke are more likely to suffer from asthma, ear infections, and middle ear problems.
Long-Term Effects of Secondhand Smoke
Smoking around children increases their chances of smoking themselves later in life. A study published in Pediatrics found that kids exposed to second hand smoke had increased odds of developing asthma, bronchitis and pneumonia. Researchers also discovered that exposure to second hand smoke caused lung cancer in adults.
Creating a Smoke-Free Environment
Smoking kills nearly half of all people who start it and causes many others to become ill. If you want to protect children from secondhand smoke, make sure that all areas of the house are smoke free. This includes cars, bedrooms, bathrooms, and outdoor spaces such as patios and decks. You might even consider installing air purifiers to help keep the air clean.
If you cannot stop smoking, do not expose your children to secondhand smoke. Remove yourself from your child’s life. Do not let anyone else care for your child while you smoke. Instead, find someone who does not smoke to watch over your child.
Choose a babysitter who does not smoke. Ask about his or her smoking habits before hiring him or her. If he or she smokes, ask whether there are places where you can go during your visits to smoke.
Encourage tobacco free childcare and school environments. Talk to teachers, administrators, parents, students, and other adults about how important it is to keep kids away from cigarettes.
Who is exposed to secondhand smoke?
Secondhand smoke exposure occurs when someone breathes in cigarette smoke that has been exhaled by another person. This includes both active smokers and passive smokers. Secondhand smoke contains many harmful chemicals including nicotine, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, ammonia, hydrogen cyanide, benzene, arsenic, lead, cadmium, chromium, nickel, and asbestos. These toxins cause cancer, heart disease, respiratory problems, and birth defects.
Casino workers are often exposed to it while performing their job. They inhale the smoke from cigarettes that patrons throw away into ashtrays or trash cans. In addition, casino employees are exposed to secondhand smoke because they spend long hours inside casinos where smoking is allowed.
Hotel workers are also exposed to it while working. They breathe in the smoke from cigarettes that guests toss out onto hotel floors. As well, hotel workers are exposed to secondhand smokes because they perform tasks such as cleaning rooms and vacuuming carpets.
