Pregnant Smokers Could Put Children at Greater Risk for ADHD - East Idaho News
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Pregnant Smokers Could Put Children at Greater Risk for ADHD

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GETTY 072214 smokingpregnancy?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1406040627883Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — The dangers of smoking during pregnancy have been well documented. One possible side effect is that a cigarette habit might put a child at a greater risk of developing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

As a result, physicians have recommended that if a pregnant woman can’t quit cold turkey, they switch over to nicotine-replacement products such as patches or gum.

However, a new study out of the University of Denmark suggests that while these products might do less harm to the mother, the nicotine they’re ingesting could still boost their child’s chances of developing ADHD.

Study author Dr. Jin Liang Zhu says that while no definitive link has been established between nicotine and ADHD, health experts have long believed that cigarette smoking can lead to abnormalities in the fetal brain.

As a result, any woman who smokes is advised to quit if they wish to get pregnant or are pregnant, and to come off nicotine-replacement therapy as quickly as possible.


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