If you hated your nose as a child, you can blame your mother.
That’s because drinking alcohol in the months before pregnancy can change the shape of your child’s face, according to a study.
Researchers at the Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam used AI to analyze 3D images of the faces of children between the ages of nine and thirteen.
Information about their mothers’ alcohol consumption was collected years earlier through questionnaires filled out by the women during early, mid and late pregnancy.
The images show the average face shape of 3,149 9-year-olds (top row) and 2,477 13-year-olds (bottom row) whose mothers drank only in the three months before pregnancy (left column), only in the first trimester (second column ) and during the first trimester or during all trimesters (third column). The results show that children whose mothers only drank a small glass of wine a week before pregnancy were more likely to have a stuffy nose, a shortened nose or a turned-out chin, according to a study. Red areas indicate where the face is sunken more than average, and blue areas indicate where the face protrudes more than expected
The team found a link between alcohol exposure in the three months before pregnancy and facial shape.
Children whose mothers drank only a small glass of wine a week before pregnancy were more likely to have a stuffy nose, a shortened nose or a turned-out chin, the study found.
The more the mothers drank, the greater the changes.
Women who continued to drink small amounts during pregnancy further increased the likelihood that their children would develop these facial features.
The results, published in the journal Human Reproduction, applied to children as young as nine years old.
However, no significant association was found when children reached 13 years of age.
This suggested that other environmental factors or growth patterns may reduce or mask the changes as children age.
The authors said their findings are important because the shape of children’s faces can indicate health and developmental problems.
Professor Gennady Roshchupkin, who led the study, said: “It is important to emphasize that there is no established safe level of alcohol consumption during pregnancy.
“It is advisable to stop drinking before conception to ensure optimal health outcomes for both the mother and the developing fetus.”
DO YOU DRINK TOO MUCH ALCOHOL? THE 10 QUESTIONS THAT DISCOVER YOUR RISK
A screening tool commonly used by medical professionals is the OUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Tests). The 10-item test, developed in collaboration with the World Health Organization, is considered the gold standard for determining whether someone has alcohol abuse.
The test is reproduced here with permission from the WHO.
To complete it, answer each question and record the corresponding score.
YOUR RESULT:
0-7: You are within the limits of reasonable drinking and are at low risk for alcohol-related problems.
More than 8: Indicates harmful or dangerous drinking.
8-15: Medium risk level. If you drink at your current level, you risk problems with your health and life in general, such as: B. Work and relationships. Consider reducing it (see below for tips).
16-19: Higher risk for complications from alcohol. At this level it can be difficult to reduce on your own as you may be dependent and may need professional help from your GP and/or a counsellor.
20 and over: Possible dependency. Your alcohol consumption is already causing problems and you may very well be addicted. You should definitely consider phasing out, or at least drinking less. You should seek professional help to determine your addiction and the safest way to stop drinking.
Severe addiction may require medically assisted cessation or detoxification in a hospital or specialty clinic. This is because of the potential for severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms within the first 48 hours, which require specialist attention.
Source link
Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
