Influence of early life events on health and diseases

Abstract

The transition from the fetal to the extrauterine environment is associated with complex physiological adjustments and involves numerous cardiovascular, pulmonary, and metabolic adjustments to ensure successful adaptation to the postnatal life. While such changes are in response to the altered environment in which the newborn finds itself, external changes affecting the fetal environment could impact the integrity of these mechanisms and increase susceptibility to diseases later in life. The present article reviews some of the mechanisms involved in the transition from fetal to postnatal life and focuses of how our health as adults is dependent on the conditions we experienced in-utero.