Language: English
Welcome to EPG Patient Direct
The healthcare portal for patients and the general public in Europe
- Conditions and illnesses
- Managing your health
- Lifestyle advice
- Treatment choices
More News Health News
- Patients with diabetes experience slowdown of thought processes
Published Monday 05 January 2009 - Obese post-menopausal women at greater risk of ovarian cancer
Published Monday 05 January 2009 - Study looks at the costs associated with sleep disorders
Published Friday 02 January 2009 - Expert advises on a healthy diet for a healthy pocket
Published Wednesday 31 December 2008
Your Vote
Read more about recent research into the comparison of fast food versus restaurant food
Find Out More About
This service contains links to third party websites. EPG Patient Direct is not in a position to verify this information and cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of the content contained.
More NewsEPG Patient Direct News
Maternal stress linked to childhood allergy
19 May 2008
Expectant mothers who experience stress during pregnancy may increase their child's risk of developing an allergy or asthma, researchers have found.
A study conducted at Harvard Medical School has linked a mother's pre-natal stress levels to her infant's developing immune system, suggesting that a stressful pregnancy could affect a child's likelihood of suffering from asthma.
The research suggests that women who are stressed while pregnant increase their baby's sensitivity to allergen exposure, and the possibility of childhood asthma.
Dr Rosalind J Wright, assistant professor of medicine at Brigham & Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, explained: "While predisposition to asthma may be, in part, set at birth, the factors that may determine this are not strictly genetic. Certain substances in the environment that cause allergies, such as dust mites, can increase a child's chance of developing asthma and the effects may begin before birth."
According to the report, the findings support the importance of maternal psychological wellbeing as an integral part of prenatal care.
"This research adds to a growing body of evidence that links maternal stress such as that precipitated by financial problems or relationship issues, to changes in children's developing immune systems, even during pregnancy," Dr Wright maintained.
More health news
Delicious
Reddit
Facebook
StumbleUpon
Related News Stories (General Health News)
- Obese post-menopausal women at greater risk of ovarian cancer 05/01/09
- Expert advises on a healthy diet for a healthy pocket 31/12/08
- Family rejection of gay children linked to poor childhood health, says study 29/12/08
- New study looks at hormonal changes in migraine sufferers 23/12/08
- Study could lead to more effective oral treatment 22/12/08
- Expert calls for more human immunology testing 19/12/08
- Food study locates higher calories in restaurants than fast food 18/12/08
- Workshop calls for increased animal testing 17/12/08