In addition to the factors that influence the development of the baby during pregnancy such as the mother's diet, health habits or lifestyle, environmental factors can also influence, such as air pollution, which was recently discovered can reach the placenta.
However, this is not the only environmental factor that can affect the development of the baby during pregnancy, as a new study found that climate change could negatively affect the hearts of babies born in the next decades.
It has been known for a long time that high temperatures can negatively influence pregnancy, as we saw in a study conducted some years ago, in which they found that heat waves, as well as pollution, could influence the increase in premature births.
Now, a new study published in the magazine of the American Heart Association found that a lot of Babies born between 2025 and 2035 may have congenital heart defects due to climate change.
In Babies and more The poor quality of the air the pregnant woman breathes related to low birth weightAccording to the research, this would mainly affect women whose pregnancies take place during spring and summer, as high temperatures would be the cause of these possible birth defects in babies.
The researchers arrived at this conclusion, after carrying out climate projections and analyzing the information of the national study of prevention of congenital defects, which includes a record of the risk factors for this type of health problems.
According to their analysis, climate change could cause them to appear within the mentioned period of years up to 7,000 additional cases of congenital heart defects in the United States, which was where the study was conducted.
Dr. Shao Lin, one of the study authors says that the results of his research are preliminary, but that It is recommended that women avoid exposure to high temperatures during the first weeks of pregnancy, similar to the recommendations given to people with cardiovascular diseases during the hot season.
Remember that if you are pregnant during the summer, you should stay more hydrated, wear light clothes and on very hot days avoid going out during the hours of greatest solar radiation, which are regularly when the sun is highest, between 11:00 and 17:00 hours. In case you should leave during those hours, do not forget to take some precautions to cover yourself from the sun and ensure that your departure is brief.
