World No Tobacco Day 2023: Here’s how smoking affects pregnancy and women’s health

World No Tobacco Day is observed every year on 31 May to educate people about the dangers associated with tobacco consumption.

Dr Rajshree Teshete Bhasale, gynaecologist, laparoscopic surgeon and obstetrician at Wockhardt Hospital, Mira Road, told IANS: “The best time to quit smoking is at least four months before pregnancy, that is whenever you are planning to conceive. Create.”

“Smoking can interfere with the normally functioning ovaries of women and reduce the number of mature eggs that can be fertilized by reducing the number of eggs,” Dr Manju Gupta, Senior Consultant – Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, Maternity Hospital, Noida.

According to health experts, even exposure to secondhand or passive smoking can harm the biological processes of preconception, pregnancy and postpartum.

“Even during nine months of pregnancy, a woman’s sensitivity to the effects of smoking can change, reflecting the different ways the fetus develops and grows,” Dr Gupta told IANS.
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Avoid direct smoking or any exposure to smoke in the same room. It has been observed that traces of smoke are found for hours after smoking, therefore any kind of smoking in the house should be avoided and the guests of the house should also be instructed to do the same.”

They explained that nicotine present in tobacco is a potent vasoconstrictor, so it can cause miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) or birth defects in babies.

Women exposed to smoking “are more likely to develop high blood pressure in pregnancy and its complications. Studies have shown that smoking can cause birth defects such as cleft lip, cleft palate, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, limb deficiency defects, gastroschisis and is associated with hypospadias. Excess over-exposure. Causes premature delivery, low birth weight babies, stillbirth, intrauterine fetal death or even sudden infant death syndrome in the later months of pregnancy, Dr Bhasle told IANS.

Tobacco is a major cause of preventable morbidity and mortality in the country. Smoking is a growing concern in India. Tobacco use affects all parts of the body. Smoking contains tobacco which causes lung cancer, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

“Other problems due to tobacco are wheezing, chronic cough, increased mucus production and shortness of breath. Smoking reduces lung function. Thus, quitting tobacco and living a healthy life is the need of the hour. All forms of tobacco are harmful. Also, there is no safe level of exposure to tobacco. It is better to quit in all forms.”