What are the dangers of secondhand smoke during pregnancy?

Secondhand smoke is the smoke produced by burning tobacco. However, this substance is even more harmful than direct smoking. Especially for pregnant women, it not only harms themselves, but also affects the baby in the belly.

Hazard 1: Decreased immunity of pregnant mothers

About three months after a mother becomes pregnant, if she stays in a smoky environment for a long time, her resistance will be significantly reduced, making her more susceptible to colds, headaches, and even at risk of cancer. Expectant mothers who inhale more than ten breaths of secondhand smoke a day have a nearly 100% higher chance of miscarriage than mothers who do not inhale secondhand smoke. It seriously endangers your own health and the life safety of your baby.

Long-term smoking and passive smoking will cause certain changes in human organs and lead to a decrease in immunity. The negative impact of secondhand smoke on the health of expectant mothers, fetuses and children at all stages of growth is recognized by the medical community. Exposure to secondhand smoke is an important risk factor for pregnancy-induced hypertension and other pregnancy complications in expectant mothers.

Harm 2: Fetal maldevelopment and fetal malformation

Research results show that nicotine in cigarettes can cause placental vasoconstriction, reducing blood supply to the fetus and causing fetal hypoxia. The carbon monoxide in cigarettes can cause fetal hypoxia, resulting in fetal maldevelopment or even stillbirth. The cyanide in cigarettes combines with a substance called sulfur amino acid in the human body, which can reduce the amount of vitamin B12 in the body, thereby affecting the development of the fetus and causing the child to be born with mental retardation.

Harm three: Leading to premature birth or stillbirth

Secondhand smoke contains a large amount of harmful substances and carcinogens. Non-smokers exposed to secondhand smoke will also increase the risk of developing a variety of smoking-related diseases. There is ample evidence that exposure to secondhand smoke can cause lung cancer, smoke aversion, nasal irritation, and coronary heart disease. In addition, there is evidence that secondhand smoke exposure can also cause breast cancer, sinus cancer, adult respiratory symptoms, decreased lung function, bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, stroke and atherosclerosis.