Smoking during pregnancy can cause mental problems in children

According to a new study conducted in Finland, smoking during pregnancy can cause mental problems in the children.

It is well known that if a woman smokes during pregnancy, it can lead to a large amount of congenital diseases including respiratory diseases such as asthma, heart and blood vessels diseases, high risk of ENT infections and other health problems. The new study was focused on the relationship of mental health problems such as depression, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and maternal smoking during pregnancy.

Scientists from the University of Turku analyzed information from more than 175 000 children born during the second half of 1980. Children whose mothers smoked during pregnancy had a high risk rate of mental disorders in women who smoke during pregnancy. Nearly 32% of children suffered from different mental problems in those women. If a women smokes more than 20 cigarettes a day, this risk is 44%.

Smoking during pregnancy negatively affects the status of peripheral circulation in women leading to fetal hypoxia (lack of oxygen). This is because the carbon monoxide contained in cigarette smoke binds to hemoglobin in the blood converting it into Carboxyhemoglobin. Carboxyhemoglobin is not able to transfer oxygen to the cells of the body, including the growing body of a child. As a result of hypoxia the fetus develops slowly usually weighting less than 2500 grams after birth.

Apparently, mental disorders in children are induced by partial blockage of blood flow to the brain. This results in congenital abnormalities of the nervous system and mental disturbances. Down’s syndrome is very common for children whose mothers abuse smoking and alcohol drinking while pregnancy.