Poor Asthma Control in Pregnancy Can Lead to Serious Health Complications

Women who don't control asthma during pregnancy have serious health risks like hypertension and risk of low-birth-weight babies, a study review from the U.K. said. However, women with well-maintained asthma during pregnancy have minimal risk of adverse conditions during or after pregnancy.

Asthma affects about 8 percent of all women of childbearing age. Asthma can be managed by adopting certain lifestyle changes and preventing exposure to asthma-triggers.

The new review published 6 September in The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist (TOG) found that women with severe asthma have worse complications. The study also noted that all women, irrespective of their asthma severity, need to be monitored by physicians.

The review also said that certain medications that are used to treat asthma might raise the risk of birth complications. However, it added that women should continue their treatment so that the asthma remains under control.

Uncontrolled asthma can lead to high risk of premature delivery, stillbirth and risk of mental disorders in the baby, according to acaai.org.

"Asthma is a widespread condition and poor management during pregnancy can lead to adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. Good asthma management to maintain tight control is vital and standard therapy may be safely used in pregnancy to achieve this along with close surveillance from midwives, obstetricians and for women with severe asthma a respiratory physician," said Chris Brightling, from University Hospitals of Leicester and co-author of the paper.

Asthma is a chronic, lung condition that narrows the airways, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. The disease causes chest tightening, wheezing and coughing. In the U.S., about 25 million people suffer from asthma, of which at least 7 million are children.