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ADHD in Children Linked to Smoking During Pregnancy

Aarhus, Denmark – New research claims that ADHD in children could be caused by smoking while mothers are conceiving.

Hazards During Pregnancy

ADHD in Children Linked to Smoking During PregnancyNew research claims, although does not prove yet that smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) development in children. ADHD in children could also be caused by other nicotine-replacement products that pregnant women use during their pregnancy. Nicotine-replacement products include nicotine patches and gum. These products are used by pregnant women as a sort of an urgent care near me alternatives to cigarettes. Thus, the study suggests that both nicotine and tobacco are hazardous during pregnancy.

Reducing Fetal Damages

Doctor Timothy Wilens, Center for Addiction Medicine director says that implementing ways in keeping mothers from smoking during their pregnancy is difficult. The assistance of an urgent care clinic and other agencies may be necessary throughout the implementation. This itself is considered a false sense of security, Wilens says. Thus, getting pregnant women to stop smoking or use nicotine replacements could help reduce fetal damages while a child is developing in the womb. Doctor Jin Liang Zhu, lead author of the study also says that smoking can cause fetal damages, as well as the risk of miscarriage, premature delivery, pregnancy complications, low birth weight, and obesity in the child. These risks and threats call for an urgent care and concern among conceiving mothers.

Other Factors that Cause ADHD

The study does not show clear findings on how smoking or nicotine products affect the brains of developing fetuses. However, Zhu emphasizes that nicotine could still cause brain abnormalities since cigarette smoke products like carbon monoxide affects brains as well. Furthermore, ADHD in children is caused not only by smoking during pregnancy, but also genetic factors. The authors suggest that ADHD could run in families, and those with such condition in the family are more likely to smoke. The background information about the study also claims that shared environment wherein smoking is present can likewise result to ADHD.

Common Behavioral Disorder

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that ADHD is one of the most common behavioral disorders during childhood. Parents who have children with such condition may require the services of urgent care clinics for necessary treatments. Consequently, the study involved 85,000 children in Denmark. The study also suggested that smoking before pregnancy does not boost the ADHD risk in children. Overall, the rates of ADHD in children were the highest among those kids with both smoking parents, compared to those households with only one parent smoking and households with nonsmoking parents.

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