Pubdate: Mon, 09 May 2016
Source: News, The (New Glasgow, CN NS)
Page: 15
Copyright: 2016 Transcontinental Inc.
Contact:  http://www.ngnews.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3343
Authors: Mehmet Oz and Mike Roizen
Note: Mehmet Oz, M.D. is host of The Dr. Oz Show, and Mike Roizen, 
M.D. is Chief Wellness Officer and Chair of Wellness Institute at 
Cleveland Clinic.

HOPES AND DREAMS GO UP IN SMOKE

Up in Smoke (Cheech and Chong, 1978) may have floated the hazy notion
that smoking marijuana was harmless fun, but new research shows that a
woman's chance for delivering a healthy baby is actually what goes up
in smoke if she lets smoke into her brain and lungs while pregnant.

Researchers from the University of Arizona looked at 24 studies of
pregnancy and marijuana smoking: They discovered that pregnant women
who smoke cannabis were more likely to be anemic and their babies more
likely to end up in neonatal intensive care with low birth weight.

Low birth weight is associated with intestinal and respiratory woes,
brain bleeds, and heart and vision problems.

This study comes at the same time that researchers in Leipzig's
Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research discovered that tobacco
smoking during pregnancy causes epigenetic disruption that
dys-regulates several genes at once and can trigger a roster of health
problems for a newborn and throughout life.

Plus, various studies indicate that cannabis smoke is almost as toxic
as tobacco smoke and can reduce levels of the neurotransmitter
dopamine, impairing memory and making it hard to stop smoking without
feeling depressed.

These studies together should be more than enough to convince every
young woman that if she smokes marijuana, tobacco or both, her dreams
of a healthy baby may just go up in smoke.

Need help quitting tobacco? Check out the info at www.smokefree.gov 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D