Children born in winter have more vulnerable lungs, study suggests

Early life factors - such as respiratory infections, the date a child was born or whether they had a mother who smoked - contribute to how fast lungs age

Non-smokers with lung cancer are 'disadvantaged' (Getty)

Children born in winter have lungs which age faster than normal, making them more vulnerable in later life, according to new research.

Researchers found early life factors such as respiratory infections, the date a child was born, or whether they had a mother who smoked, contribute to how fast lungs age.

In a study published in the journal PLOS One, such early life factors were found to predict lung function decline in later life.

"Having a mother who smoked when she was pregnant with you will affect your lungs in a negative way," Professor Cecillie Svanes, one of the study's authors, explained.

"The same is the case if you were born during the winter months, or if you experienced a severe respiratory infection at a very young age."

She added: "It is logical that early life development also affects the systems that maintain our body and repair damage. If so, this could explain why some people do not tolerate exposure to certain toxics in later life."

Studying over 12,800 people aged between 28-73 years over a period of 9-11 years, those exposed to early life risk factors were found to have a faster decline in lung function - practically meaning their lungs age more quickly.

However, such decline only became apparent if the person had started smoking or if other risk factors had been part of their early life.

"We can put it this way: smoking is dangerous for everyone, but these people are far more vulnerable to its effects. We can also imagine that they would be particularly vulnerable also to other factors, such as air pollution," said Professor Svanes.

She concluded: "If you get a 50 year-old to quit smoking, it is beneficial. If you get him/her to stop as a teenager, it is even better.

"But if the mother refrains from smoking before he/she is conceived, it might play an even bigger role for future overall health."