Friday Links – Fall Asthma Babies, Bush vs. National Parks

By
Amy
Published: November 21, 2008Posted in: Air Quality, Asthma, Triggers and Flares/Attacks

Your Fall Baby’s Birthday May Up Risk of Asthma Development
Vanderbilt University has new research suggesting autumn babies, who are around four months-old during the height of cold and flu season, have a 30% higher chance of developing asthma than babies born during other seasons. The study adds weight to the early respiratory infection risk factor and suggests timing plays a substantial role. Meaning it’s possible (only possible) doctors may someday recommend that women at high risk of bearing children who will develop asthma–if they are asthmatics themselves, for example–plan their pregnancies to coincide with spring, winter, or summer births instead.

As per usual, place these results in the larger context. Asthma looks more and more like a syndrome than a disease everyday, with an enormous range of risk factors, triggers, symptoms, and severity levels.

At the very least, be aware of this possible risk factor and all the asthma flare symptoms, should you ever find yourself with an autumn newborn.

Do You Need Another Reason Not to Smoke While Pregnant?
Or do you know someone who does? Here, read this article and learn how smoking during pregnancy appears to thicken the carotid arteries of the babies in utero. That sets those babies up for a higher risk of heart attacks and strokes later. Nice, huh?

Dads, you’re not off the hook, either. And if both parents smoke during the pregnancy? Even worse.
(via the American Lung Association)

Bush & EPA (Again) – Who Needs Clean Air in Those Gorgeous National Parks, Anyway?
This Washington Post story says it best, so here. Read the lead and then click for the article:

The Environmental Protection Agency is completing new air quality rules that will make it easier to build coal-fired power plants, oil refineries and other major polluters near national parks and wilderness areas, despite the fact that half of the EPA’s 10 regional administrators have formally dissented from the decision and another four have criticized the move in writing.