Exercise in Pregnancy Might Lower Baby's Odds for Asthma Later

MONDAY, Oct. 14, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- A child’s risk of asthma can be cut by nearly half if their mother regularly works out while expecting, a new study says.

Exercising three or more times a week while pregnant reduces a child’s risk of asthma by about 46%, researchers reported Oct. 9 in the journal Med.

This level of protection is akin to an expecting mother or father quitting smoking while she’s pregnant, thus reducing her exposure to cigarette smoke, researchers noted. 

The results jibe with earlier studies that showed newborns have stronger lung function if their mothers regularly exercised during pregnancy, researchers noted.