Does Smoking During Pregnancy Increase the Risk of Congenital Heart Disease?
Smoking during pregnancy is a well-established risk factor for congenital heart disease.
Exposure to nicotine and carbon monoxide reduces oxygen levels in the developing fetus and disrupts the formation of the heart during the early stages of pregnancy.
This can lead to structural abnormalities such as septal defects or issues with the heart’s major blood vessels.
The risk is highest during the first trimester, when the heart is forming. Both active smoking and secondhand smoke exposure contribute to this risk.
Stopping smoking before or early in pregnancy remains one of the most effective ways to reduce the likelihood of congenital heart defects.
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