Effect of parental smoking on children?

CIMT measurement

Parental Smoking Causes Vascular Damage In Young Children - Surrogate markers of vascular disease are hsCRP, carotid artery intima media thickness. Carotid artery intima media thickness measurement is painless and repeatable. So, in one study specifically, they looked at the children's carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT) and arterial wall distensibility, using ultrasonography to take the measurements. The evidence was fairly conclusive and showed that children whose mothers smoked during pregnancy had on average carotid arteries showing 15% more stiffness, as well as arterial thickening of 19 microns, (which is about the thickness of a cassette tape) compared with their smoke free peers. Where both mother and father smoked during the pregnancy the stiffness rose to 21% and thickening to 28 microns. So, we should encourage parents to avoid smoking which is not only harmful to them but also to their children. Increased CIMT is also associated with increased coronary artery disease related events. This parameter has been used in the past and it correlated with the postprandial blood sugar levels.