Question

Discuss at least two health implicative effects of environment and smoking on the unborn fetus or on children.

Answer 1

Answer: During pregnancy, prenatal care is important. A pregnant woman requires sufficient amount of vitamins, nutrients and folic acid for normal growth and development of fetus. Pregnant woman should avoid smoking so it causes various health risk to the fetus. Some of the effects of smoking and environment on the fetus are:

• Increased risk of SIDS ( sudden infant death syndrome) The smoking causes increased risk as the lungs doesn't get sufficient amount of oxygen as well as the damages most of the lung cells. Hence it reduces the blood circulation to the fetus.
• Respiratory disease or poor lungs development. In the case where sufficient amount of oxygen doesn't reach to the fetus, it will causes accumulation of smokes as well as tobacco residue in the lungs of fetus. This weakens the lungs of fetus and hence causes breathing problems.
• Low birth weight is common as poor nutrients availability to the fetus causes abnormal growth and development of the fetus.
• Miscarriages are also common in the clients who smokes or exposed to the toxic environment.