You're pregnant but still smokes naughty? This is a bad omen for the fetus you are carrying. In addition to disrupt neurological development and intelligence, recent studies show the baby's blood pressure also affected.

Research conducted by senior researchers Karolinska Institute, Stockhlom, showed babies born to smoking mothers have a blood pressure problem until they are one year old. "This blood pressure disturbances disappear but instead continued to deteriorate with age babies," said Gary Cohen, chief researcher.

Research done by comparing infants from nonsmoking mothers with infants of mothers who smoked up to 15 bars even though it was pregnant. At the age of one week, two percent of babies of smoking mothers group experienced an increase in blood pressure and 10 percent in the age of one year.

The pattern of blood pressure problems occur in infants aged one week and at the age of one year. In addition, infants born to smoking mothers also had heart problems. These disturbances are believed to bring long-term health problems. Cohen writes in the medical journal Hypertension.

Cohen explains, cigarette smoke will damage the structure and function of blood vessels, especially endothelial, vascular protective layer. But he could not answer whether this damage is permanent. "We just watched this disorder for 12 months, but plans to conduct further research," he said.

The research of experts from the Karolinska was similar to the results of studies that examine the health of babies born to mothers drug users. "The babies could be impaired brain circuits," said Barry M. Lester, a pediatrician from Brown Medical School who has studied the long-term effects of pregnant drug users. "The drug users are also smoke," he added.

"The effect of cigarette smoke on fetal neural function similar to the effects of cocaine and methamphetamine," said Lester.

Various studies prove the health problems experienced by the fetus associated with excessive production of hormones or the stress hormone cortisol, which plays an important role to regulate blood pressure and immune system. When produced excess, cortisol can damage the immune system so that the baby is more susceptible infections.

Secondhand smoke threatens the health of the fetus is not only coming from mothers who smoke during pregnancy but also including expectant fathers who are addicted to smoking so that fetal exposure to secondhand smoke.