According to Dr. Neha Khandelwal, Director of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Cloudnine Hospital (New Delhi, India), some studies show that women whose partners smoke are at higher risk of pre-eclampsia than those whose partners do not smoke.
What is pre-eclampsia?
Preeclampsia is a serious complication of pregnancy, usually appearing after week 20, characterized by high blood pressure and the risk of organ damage such as liver and kidneys.
Common signs include high blood pressure, protein in urine, severe headache, swelling and vision disorders. If not detected and treated promptly, pre-eclampsia can progress to eclampsia, causing convulsions and threatening the lives of the mother and fetus.
How does the husband's smoking affect?
Smoking is known to be a harmful factor to reproductive health. However, the effects of tobacco are not only limited to smokers but can also affect pregnancy.
Dr. Khandelwal said that one of the mechanisms may be related to sperm quality. Smoking can cause oxidative stress and damage sperm DNA. This can affect the normal development of the placenta, an important factor in providing oxygen and nutrition to the fetus.
In addition, secondhand smoke is also a worrying factor. When the husband smokes near his pregnant wife, the pregnant woman may inhale toxic chemicals such as nicotine, carbon monoxide and tar. These substances can damage blood vessels and increase the risk of high blood pressure.
Some studies also show that smoking can affect the formation and functioning of the placenta. When the placenta does not develop properly, the risk of pregnancy complications, including pre-eclampsia, may increase.
What to do to reduce the risk?
Experts believe that lifestyle changes before and during pregnancy can help reduce the risk of complications.
First of all, the husband should quit smoking before planning to have children to improve sperm health and limit the risk of exposure to cigarette smoke.
In addition, pregnant women should avoid exposure to cigarette smoke indoors or in public places. A smoke-free living environment will help protect the health of both mother and fetus.
In addition, couples should also maintain a healthy diet, exercise reasonably and control stress to support a healthy pregnancy.
Regular prenatal check-ups are also very important to monitor blood pressure and detect abnormal signs early.
Experts emphasize that a healthy pregnancy does not only depend on the mother. Positive changes in the lifestyle of both husband and wife, especially quitting smoking, can contribute to reducing the risk of complications and protecting the health of mother and baby.
