A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Eastern Finland, in collaboration with Kuopio University Hospital and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, has revealed that engaging in physical exercise at least three times a week during pregnancy can nearly halve the risk of asthma in children. The findings were based on data from nearly 1,000 mother-child pairs enrolled in the Kuopio Birth Cohort study, known as KuBiCo, which tracked participants from pregnancy until the children reached the age of seven.
The study underscores the known benefits of maternal exercise, which not only promotes the health of the mother but also positively impacts the child’s well-being. Previous research has shown that physical activity during pregnancy is associated with improved lung function in newborns.
Maternal exercise and a child’s risk of developing asthma are influenced by various factors, including maternal weight, stress levels, pre-existing illnesses, family exercise habits, dietary choices, and even pet ownership. While the study accounted for these variables, they did not fully explain the observed protective effects of maternal exercise against childhood asthma.
“Our findings strongly suggest that maternal exercise during pregnancy has an independent positive effect on the fetus and on the later health of the child,” stated lead researcher Musakka.
The researchers noted that maternal exercise might influence fetal activity and breathing movements, which are crucial for lung development. However, the exact mechanisms behind how maternal exercise reduces the risk of asthma in children remain unclear. Musakka speculated that increased physical activity might support fetal lung maturation.
Asthma is the most prevalent chronic illness among children, and many cases are considered preventable. Dr. Pirkka Kirjavainen, another lead researcher on the study, emphasized the significance of these findings. “Historically, avoiding cigarette smoke during pregnancy has been one of the few effective strategies to reduce a child’s asthma risk. It is intriguing to note that moderate maternal exercise during pregnancy may offer a similarly strong protective effect,” he said.
The research did not find evidence that increasing exercise beyond three times a week further decreased the risk of asthma. Therefore, additional studies are needed to explore how the frequency and intensity of exercise during pregnancy influence asthma prevention. The World Health Organization (WHO) currently recommends that pregnant women engage in approximately 2.5 hours of moderate exercise each week.
“The findings are very promising in terms of asthma prevention. It is highly encouraging to see that by engaging in reasonable amounts of exercise, mothers can significantly influence not only their own health but also the health of their child,” Kirjavainen concluded.
As this research highlights the importance of physical activity during pregnancy, it encourages expectant mothers to prioritize regular exercise as a means to enhance their own health and potentially safeguard their children against respiratory issues such as asthma.
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