Pregnant Women Can’t Quit Smoking Because of Their Genes

Despite the many warnings issued periodically by health authorities and although being properly educated on the consequences of smoking while pregnant, an overwhelming number of women continue to smoke even after they learn they’re with child. Such an action continues to be damaging, a new study points out, but it could very well be that the women in question have genetics working against him.

Researchers at the Peninsula Medical School in Exeter and the University of Bristol tracked the progress of over 2,400 smokers who became pregnant and were faced with the choice of quitting for the sake of their unborn children. Despite the fact that pregnancy is reportedly the best time for a woman to give cigarettes up, over 80 percent of them never do, as the findings of the study point out. This is also to be explained by the presence of an “addictive” gene that makes it hard for women to kick the habit, but not altogether impossible, researchers underline.

“Pregnant women are under considerable health and social pressure to stop smoking, and quitting in such circumstances is influenced by a number of factors including the age of the expectant mother, their education and whether or not their partners smoke. We were keen to investigate whether the genetic variant that influences increased cigarette consumption also had a role to play as an extra hurdle to quitting smoking during pregnancy, and our study suggests that it does.” Dr. Rachel Freathy of the Peninsula Medical School says for the Mail.

Nevertheless, the fact that the gene is present in many women should not equal a permission to continue indulging in the unhealthy habit even at the risk of their own and their baby’s health, researchers warn. Having the “addictive” gene does not mean that women can’t find it in themselves to stop, it just implies that it will be harder for them do so. Again, this is not to say that they should not at least try, the scientists say.

“We would not wish our findings to be used as an excuse to avoid giving up smoking during pregnancy. It is clear from our study that a considerable proportion of women did manage to quit smoking, despite inheriting two addiction copies of the gene. We stress the importance for all expectant mothers who smoke to make use of the resources available from their GP surgeries, local PCTs and pharmacists in their bid to quit smoking, for the benefit of their health and the health of their unborn children.” the researchers conclude by saying, as cited by the same publication.