Smoking during Pregnancy Could Alter Future Child's Genes

Smoking isn't good for you, and that's certainly true for a pregnant woman and her future child.

A recent study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives shows that women who smoke during pregnancy could actually be causing epigenetic changes to their fetus that could result in birth defects or significant health problems in the future.

Study findings revealed that children who were exposed to tobacco smoke in utero were at a higher risk for certain birth defects and medical problems when compared to other mothers who did not smoke during their pregnancy. Furthermore, study results showed that this disparity continued on into adulthood.

Early studies have shown that toxins found in tobacco smoke could poentially alter the DNA in a developing fetus. As it stands, there are more than 7,000 chemicals in tobacco smoke--at least 69 of which are carcinogens.

For the study, researchers examined a large group of mothers and children. They analyzed blood samples from 889 newborns. From this sample, 287 had reported smoking during their first trimester of pregnancy. Findings revealed a link between maternal smoking and altered methylation in 110 genes.

Researchers are still determining the effects of all the altered genes. However, children of women who smoke during pregnancy are more likely to weigh less or be pre-term. They're also at an increased risk for nicotine addiction.

Statistics show that more than 16 million Americans die from a disease that's related to smoking. There are lots of resources to give up the nasty habit. Check out some of these health benefits, courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).