Second-hand smoke threatens the health of fetuses and pregnant mothers

Background: Secondhand smoke is one of the biggest public health problems that is constantlyincreasing. If the mother is exposed to secondhand smoke or cigarettes during pregnancy, both themother and the baby are at risk. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of secondhandsmoke on the health of the fetus and pregnant mothers.Methods: To review the studies conducted in Iran and other countries from databases: Iran doc,SID, Pub Med, Web of Science, Pro Quest, Scopus, Elsevier and Google Scholar using thekeywords cigarette smoke, second hand smoke, exposed to cigarette smoke , Education weresearched.Results: The amount of exposure to second-hand smoke in Iran is much higher than the amount ofactive tobacco use during pregnancy in all the countries studied. Second-hand smoke increases therisk of stillbirth and increased fetal and infant mortality, sudden infant death syndrome, congenitalabnormalities, low birth weight, short stature and reduced head circumference. Nicotine spreads inthe blood of the fetus, amniotic fluid and breast milk and has a negative effect on the neuraldevelopment of the fetus. Exposure to second-hand smoke during pregnancy throughinflammatory pathways in the mother's body causes placental weight loss; It will lead to prematurebirth or intrauterine growth restriction and also reduces the average birth weight of babies by ۳۱-۶۰ grams. Second-hand smoke contains many toxins, including nicotine, carbon monoxide,ammonia, formaldehyde, hydrogen cyanide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and one of thesignificant consequences of these toxins before birth is the sensitivity of the fetus's brain tonicotine, which leads to increased addiction. It becomes in later ages. Studies have shown therelationship between exposure to second-hand smoke before birth and increasing the likelihood ofsmoking in adolescence. The relationship between the cessation of breastfeeding before the childis ۶ months old and the low concentration of prolactin in mothers exposed to second-hand smokedue to the effect of nicotine on inhibiting its release has also been reported. Increased risk of bonefractures has been associated with children whose mothers were exposed to secondhand smokeduring pregnancy.Conclusion: Protecting pregnant women in order to reduce their exposure to secondhand smokeshould be considered as a basic strategy to improve the health of mothers and children. It is also necessary to educate and inform about the dangers and to regulate the law banning the use oftobacco at home to protect pregnant women

کلیدواژه ها:

Pregnant Women ، Second-Hand Smoke ، Infant ، Health