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Cigarettes seen in the picture.
A University of the Western Cape study has found that exposure to tobacco smoke in the womb could lead to an increased risk of developing high blood pressure later in life.
The study indicates that body weight is a key factor linked to elevated blood pressure in adolescence.
Researchers found that maternal smoking had a significant direct effect on adolescent systolic blood pressure and an indirect effect through body mass index (BMI).
The research was led by Dr Tammy Ras, a lecturer in the Department of Medical Bioscience.
She says, “Importantly, many of these adolescents come from low-income communities where periods of poverty and food insecurity are followed by excessive weight gain during adulthood. Our research therefore highlights the need for stronger support for maternal health, ongoing monitoring of children exposed to nicotine and also early interventions that promote healthy lifestyles as children grow older. And this is critical because smoking and consuming alcohol during pregnancy are common practices in South Africa.”
