Global warming is making our lives hell every day and taking us to a future with chaos. And now it is affecting children who aren't even born in this world yet.?
New research reveals that global warming is causing babies to take birth prematurely as early as two weeks before the due date.
Scientists discovered in the research (published first in Nature Climate Change) that on days of temperatures going over 32 degree Celsius, hospitals witnessed a five percent spike in childbirths.
While many kids were born before their actual due date, some were as early as two weeks before the date, which is alarming.
Researchers feel that the rise in temperatures is causing the hormones in the women's bodies to shift, resulting in the labour to kick-in sooner.
Premature births can result in severe health issues for the child including lower birth weights, slower development while also being more prone to health issues. Researchers had a look at data of 56 million in the US between 1969 and 1988. They discovered that the hotter days resulted in significant spike in birth rates.? And according to them the recurrence of heatwaves only makes it worse.?
And the research is still with 30-year-old data, which means the effects could have gotten a lot worse today with the rise in temperatures.?
According to Professor Alan Barreca, the lead author of the study, ¡°As a large proportion of births, especially in the US are precipitated by doctors (inductions or Caesareans), there maybe social reasons (e.g. women requesting delivery earlier when they are uncomfortable with the heat). This requires further evaluation to understand mechanisms. Extremes of temperatures, both hot and cold have previously been linked to risk of both stillbirth and delivery. Mechanisms are not clear.¡±
He further added, ¡°Like many health conditions, temperature can affect basic body functions, affecting blood flow and breathing. Women should stay hydrated and cool in hot weather and warm in the cold. Given the wide variety of temperatures around the world, and that most women have normal pregnancies, this is unlikely to be an important risk factor for any individual.¡±
The research further states that to stay safe from this, staying in an air-conditioned room with optimal room temperatures is the best way to save premature births.?