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| POSTED 11/1/2005 |
New Guidelines for Pregnant
Women With Asthma
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The National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP), a division of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, is urging expectant mothers with asthma to keep the condition under control.
When asthma is not managed well during pregnancy, the baby’s air supply is also weakened. This can lead to lower birth weight and preeclampsia, a condition where the mother’s blood pressure rises to a dangerous level.
To control asthma, the NAEPP recommends taking two commonly used medicines to keep triggers at bay. Beta2-agonists and inhaled corticosteroids have been studied in pregnant women and have been found safe. They have not been linked to an increased risk of birth defects or other pregnancy complications.
The NAEPP also recommends that pregnant women with asthma have their lung function tested regularly. According to studies two-thirds of expectant women with asthma experience a worsening of symptoms.
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