(Source: File Photo)Children exposed to higher levels of air pollution during the third trimester of their mother’s pregnancy face a higher risk of elevated blood pressure in childhood, according to a study. “High blood pressure during childhood often leads to high blood pressure in adulthood and hypertension is the leading cause of cardiovascular disease,” said Mueller, senior author of the study published in the journal Hypertension. Blood pressure was measured at each childhood physical examination at 3 to 9-years old. Higher exposure to air pollution in the third trimester, when foetal weight gain is the most rapid, was already known to influence (lower) birthweight, researchers said. However, the study found the association with elevated blood pressure regardless of whether a child was of low-, normal- or high birthweight.

Source: Indian Express May 14, 2018 13:34 UTC