Reducing the risk of asthma in children may be as simple as incorporating regular physical exercise into a mother’s pregnancy routine. A groundbreaking study conducted by the University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio University Hospital, and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare reveals that engaging in active physical exercise at least three times a week during pregnancy can reduce the risk of asthma in children by nearly half. The study, which involved nearly 1,000 mother-child pairs followed from pregnancy until the child was seven years old, sheds light on the significant impact of maternal exercise on the development of asthma in children.
Maternal exercise during pregnancy has long been known to have positive effects on both maternal and child health. Previous research has shown that maternal exercise is associated with improved newborn lung function, but this study marks the first time a link has been established between maternal exercise and the development of asthma in children.
The association between exercise and reduced asthma risk was found to be independent of other maternal health, lifestyle, and environmental factors.
Factors such as maternal weight, stress, illness, family exercise habits, and nutrition have all been linked to both maternal exercise and the risk of asthma in children. However, the researchers took these factors into account and found that maternal exercise during pregnancy had a protective effect on the child’s risk of asthma that was independent of these other influences.
“Our findings suggest that maternal exercise during pregnancy has a direct positive impact on both the foetus and the future health of the child,” says Doctoral Researcher Emma-Reetta Musakka.
Research indicates that maternal exercise can affect foetal activity and breathing movements, which in turn support lung development. While the exact mechanism behind the reduced risk of asthma in children is still unclear, one possibility is that maternal exercise helps to mature the foetal lungs.
Asthma is a prevalent chronic illness in children, with many cases being preventable.
Historically, avoiding cigarette smoke during pregnancy has been one of the few proven ways to reduce a child’s risk of asthma. The discovery that moderate maternal exercise during pregnancy may have a similarly strong protective effect on asthma risk is promising. Lead researcher Dr. Pirkka Kirjavainen notes that the findings suggest maternal exercise can have a profound impact on the health outcomes of children.
While the study found that exercising more than three times a week did not yield a further reduction in asthma risk, there is still more to learn about the role of exercise intensity and frequency in asthma prevention. The World Health Organization recommends that pregnant women engage in 2.5 hours of moderate exercise per week, highlighting the importance of staying active during pregnancy.
“These findings offer hope for asthma prevention and underscore the importance of regular exercise for mothers. By incorporating reasonable amounts of exercise into their routine, mothers can positively influence not only their own health but also the health of their child,” Kirjavainen adds.
The study was recently published in MED, showcasing the significant impact of maternal exercise on childhood asthma risk.
