Two-thirds of women in their child-bearing years have an increased risk for birth defects due to a lifestyle factor they can change, a new study says.
These risk factors -- low levels of vitamin B9 (folate), unmanaged diabetes or exposure to tobacco smoke -- increase the odds of a serious birth defect in any child they might have, researchers said.
Heart defects, cleft palates and defects of the brain and spinal cord are among the problems that could be headed off if women took steps to improve their health prior to pregnancy, researchers reported Tuesday in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
"Every growing family hopes for a healthy pregnancy and healthy baby," said lead researcher Arick Wang, a senior health scientist at the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities.
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