Smoking

Exposure to active and passive smoking poses a serious health risk, especially to children and foetuses. During pregnancy, smoking can impair the baby's brain development and increase the risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Moreover, prenatal exposure is linked to an increased risk of childhood and adolescent obesity, since it alters the functioning of areas of the brain involved in appetite regulation.  

 

Smoking has a negative impact on respiratory health from the foetal stage, causing potential respiratory and cardiovascular problems. Infants exposed to smoking in utero may develop lung abnormalities that increase the risk of chronic respiratory diseases in adulthood. Furthermore, passive smoking is associated with the formation of biofilm in the lungs, which can promote recurrent infections and respiratory problems. The cardiovascular system can also be affected by this exposure, increasing the risk of heart disease in the future.  

 

One of the lesser-known effects of smoking is the shortening of DNA strands linked to cellular ageing. This means that children exposed to smoking from the womb may experience accelerated cellular ageing. Exposure to second-hand smoke is also a carcinogenic risk factor for various organs, including the lungs, oral cavity and pharynx.   

Addictions
Do you want to quit smoking?
If you’ve decided to free yourself from tobacco for your child, find out how in the section dedicated to smoking addiction.

Forms of exposure to smoking 

Even so-called third-hand exposure, i.e. the inadvertent exposure to nicotine residues present in the environment, poses a danger to newborns, who can easily come into contact with these substances through their skin or by inhalation.   

In recent years, the use of electronic cigarettes (or vapes) has risen. These too pose significant risks, especially in the case of young people. Despite being often perceived as a less harmful alternative to tobacco smoking, they have been shown to contain substances that are harmful to the health of users and those exposed to second-hand smoke.
To protect your newborn baby's health, you need to reduce their exposure to smoke in all its forms. Make sure that your home is kept smoke-free and that you avoid public places where there is a potential risk of exposure to smoke.