DZWatch reports that Algerian medical experts have issued a stark warning regarding the severe multi-dimensional risks posed by tobacco use during and after pregnancy, particularly its threat to newborn health. This critical message emerged from a recent scientific awareness day, hosted at the prestigious Beni Messous University Hospital, coinciding with World No Tobacco Day.<\/p>\n
Professor Rachid Elaatafi, Head of Oral Diseases and Surgery at Beni Messous University Hospital, emphasized that all forms of tobacco consumption\u2014from traditional cigarettes to snuff and e-cigarettes\u2014are significant contributors to various health hazards, including different types of cancer. He specifically highlighted the profound link between tobacco and oral health, noting that many silent oral diseases originate from tobacco use. Its detrimental effects extend beyond the lungs and heart to severely impact the mouth, teeth, and gums.<\/p>\n
Professor Elaatafi detailed how the damage often begins with subtle oral changes, such as tooth discoloration, bad breath due to chemical buildup, and dry mouth. This dry environment fosters bacterial growth, increasing the risk of cavities and oral infections. A major concern, he stated, is gum disease; smoking compromises blood circulation in gum tissues, leading to chronic inflammation, gum recession, and loss of supportive bone structure, frequently culminating in loose teeth and premature tooth loss.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, tobacco elevates the risk of developing oral lesions like leukoplakia (white patches) and erythroplakia (red patches). These abnormal growths, if not detected and treated early, can progress into cancerous tumors. Oral cancer, Professor Elaatafi warned, is one of the most dangerous tobacco-related complications, with significantly higher incidence rates among smokers. The expert also noted that tobacco hinders wound healing post-surgery or tooth extraction and increases the likelihood of fungal infections in the mouth, negatively affecting patient health and quality of life. Prevention, through quitting tobacco and adopting healthy habits, along with regular dental check-ups, remains the optimal solution.<\/p>\n
Dr. Imane Touari, an assistant physician in Pulmonology and Respiratory Diseases at Beni Messous University Hospital, addressed the misleading information propagated by tobacco industry lobbyists, who often market their products as safer alternatives. She stressed that these products are far from harmless, carrying significant health risks and addictive properties. Dr. Touari urged the adoption of modern cessation strategies, especially for individuals with chronic conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), leveraging smartphone applications, targeted text messages, remote monitoring, and AI-powered programs for support and motivation.<\/p>\n
Concurring with these concerns, Dr. Amina Sari, a pediatrician, elaborated on the grave impact of smoking and nicotine on child health, both antenatally and postnatally. She identified these factors as leading causes of developmental disorders and various childhood health issues. Exposure to smoking or second-hand smoke during pregnancy can lead to severe complications, including congenital malformations, intrauterine growth restriction, premature birth, miscarriage, or stillbirth. Dr. Sari explained that nicotine directly affects the placenta, impeding the delivery of oxygen and essential nutrients crucial for fetal development.<\/p>\n
Post-birth, the risks include Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), sleep-related breathing disorders, and diminished responses to oxygen deprivation. Dr. Sari further affirmed that early tobacco exposure impairs brain development, potentially resulting in impaired executive functions like attention, planning, and memory, reduced cognitive abilities, and behavioral disorders such as increased risk of hyperactivity and attention deficit. Additionally, children face elevated respiratory and immune risks, including asthma, recurrent respiratory infections, skin and respiratory allergies, weakened immune systems, and increased susceptibility to infections.<\/p>\n
Related topics:<\/strong> Algeria health, tobacco risks, newborn health, oral cancer, smoking cessation, Beni Messous Hospital<\/p>\n DZWatch provides English-language coverage of Algeria-focused developments for international readers.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Algerian medical experts at Beni Messous University Hospital issue warnings on severe tobacco risks, from newborn health complications to oral cancers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":62322,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"rank_math_lock_modified_date":false,"cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","iawp_total_views":2,"footnotes":""},"categories":[50],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-62323","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-economie-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dzwatch.dz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62323","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dzwatch.dz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dzwatch.dz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dzwatch.dz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dzwatch.dz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=62323"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dzwatch.dz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62323\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dzwatch.dz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/62322"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dzwatch.dz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=62323"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dzwatch.dz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=62323"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dzwatch.dz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=62323"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}