Long before the epidemiologists proved the association between cigarettes and lung cancer, chronic obstructive airways disease, vascular disease and other conditions, it is likely that most thinking individuals would intuitively have realised that smoking was likely to harm the lungs.

Most people nowadays accept the medical evidence that active smoking causes harm to the individual concerned and this is backed up by scientific evidence.

The problem then was how to stop people continuing with this addictive habit and how to prevent youngsters from starting.

It is many years ago now that restrictions in advertising and sponsorship were introduced, large warnings were placed on cigarette packets and smoking on the media was frowned upon. More recently in the UK smoking was forbidden in public places because of the risk of others of passively inhaling smoke in the atmosphere.

Much of this has worked to the extent that the number of smokers has decreased substantially and society has even imposed a feeling of guilt on many of those who continue with the habit.

But what is the risk from passive smoking in pregnancy, and before conception?

Researchers at the University of Nottingham reviewed 19 studies from around the world and concluded that pregnant women should not be exposed to passive smoke and furthermore, suggest that fathers who smoke prior to conception may damage sperm.

PASSIVE SMOKING INCREASES STILLBIRTH RISK : BBC

COUNTRY : UK

“Fathers-to-be should stop smoking to protect their unborn child from the risk of stillbirth or birth defects, scientists say.

University of Nottingham researchers found that pregnant women exposed to smoke at work or home increased their risk of stillbirth by 23% and of having a baby with defects by 13%.”

“The combined data from the studies suggests that being exposed to more than 10 cigarettes a day is enough for the risks to be increased.”

“”What we still don’t know is whether it is the effect of sidestream smoke that the woman inhales that increases these particular risks or whether it is the direct effect of mainstream smoke that the father inhales during smoking that affects sperm development, or possibly both.

“More research is needed into this issue although we already know that smoking does have an impact on sperm development, so it is very important that men quit smoking before trying for a baby.”

Please read DISCLAIMER by clicking on LEGAL tab above

© Boguslaw Mazur | Dreamstime.com