A fresh look at past studies suggests kids who live with a smoker are more likely to wheeze or get asthma, Reuters reported.

Researchers from the U.K. analyzed more than 70 studies published between 1997 and 2011. Those studies showed that when moms smoked while they were pregnant, their kids were 28 to 52 percent more likely to wheeze.

The effect on asthma symptoms was greatest in babies and toddlers, who were 85 percent more likely to have asthma if they were exposed to smoke in the womb.

When moms or non-parent household members smoked, kids had up to a 70 percent higher chance of wheezing through age 4. The effect of maternal smoking was weakest in kids age 5 to 18.

Related

• Three in 10 Chinese adults smoke
• Better enforcing of smoke law sought
• Restaurant smoke law gets tougher
• Volcano near Mexico City spews ash, smoke

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)