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Research Children born in winter often end up with more vulnerable lungs
It has long been known that the birth month has an influence on our later life. Studies have shown that children born in summer later enter puberty and are healthier than others. A new study has found that winter children have more vulnerable lungs.
Birth month has significant impact on later health
At what time of year we are born can have a significant impact on our later life. It was recently reported that the birth month has a significant impact on health. According to British scientists, children born at summer are a bit heavier at birth. Moreover, puberty sets in later with the girls. Both birth weight and the onset of puberty have health effects. Another study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, found that May-borns are statistically the healthiest. Now researchers from Norway have discovered another effect of the seasons: children born in winter have later more vulnerable lungs.
Image: psdesign1 - fotolia Later susceptibility of the lungs
The team of scientists headed by Cecilie Svanes from the University of Bergen reports in the journal "PLOS ONE" that birth during the winter months seems to have a negative effect on the later susceptibility of the lung and the aging of the lung tissue. For their study, the researchers evaluated the data of nearly 13,000 European men and women between the ages of 40 and 70, whose health had been tracked in the context of two large surveys for a long time. They looked specifically for factors that influence the propensity for lung disease.
Early infections could play a role
As the university announced, the evaluation showed that children born during the winter months suffered later in life from a decrease in lung function. According to the researchers, this correlation was "very clear and measurable in all European regions". Why this is so, however, has not yet been clarified and must be shown in further investigations. According to the scientists, early infections may provide a possible explanation. Winter children are already exposed to viral infections and allergens in the womb and often develop respiratory infections during the first months of life.
Positive effects through kindergarten visit
In addition, a mother's vitamin D deficiency, which occurs more frequently in winter, could play a role during pregnancy. This has also been discussed in connection with childhood asthma. In addition, Svanes and her colleagues found that a higher maternal age at birth also had a negative impact on the lungs. However, the scientists also had positive things to say: If you were a child in a crèche, kindergarten, or nursery, your lungs are less susceptible and your lung function will be slower than your peers who grew up only at home. Also positive in the study was the coexistence with older siblings or pets.
Our later life is influenced very early
Lung expert Cecilie Svanes had previously gained important insights into the effects of certain early childhood or antenatal influences on our later lives. For example, a few years ago she presented a study that showed that the children's risk of asthma is increased if the father was a smoker during conception. Another study showed that also the time of conception has an influence on the later health of the baby. Thus, for example, the risk of premature birth may increase if fertilization has taken place in May. (Ad)