Birth Control Pills & Cardiovascular Disease
A number of medications on the market today will cause one or more side effects that involve your cardiovascular system. Some drugs may actually cause you to suffer from conditions like high blood pressure and heart disease. One such drug is the birth control pill, especially those oral contraceptives containing estrogen.
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High Blood Pressure
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One of the potential side effects of birth control pills is the development of high blood pressure. Commonly referred to as hypertension, this particular cardiovascular disease sees an elevation in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure of above 120 mm/HG and 80 mm/HG, respectively. In regards to birth control pills, the medication hormonally causes the blood vessels to narrow, restricting circulation and increasing pressure on your arteries and veins.
High Blood Cholesterol
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There is also the potential for an escalation of blood cholesterol through the prolonged use of birth control pills. As you take these pills each day, they can increase the level of "artery-clogging plaque" within your bloodstream, namely within those vessels supplying blood to the legs and even brain. This escalation in cholesterol can cause your arteries to prematurely narrow and harder, restricting blood flow to these areas of the body.
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Atherosclerosis
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Often accompanying the elevation in blood cholesterol as well as blood pressure is the cardiovascular condition of atherosclerosis. When you take birth control pills, you're increasing your chances of accumulating fatty deposits along your arterial walls, which can narrow the vessels and impede blood flow. This can lead to an increased risk of heart disease, heart failure and stroke.
Blood Clots
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While the clotting of your blood is often an important part of healing wounds and injuries, the prolonged use of birth control pills can increase your chances of developing an abnormal clot. When this occurs, it isn't a response to an injury; it essentially forms out of nowhere. This may cause a blockage within the affected vein, reducing the blood flow to an organ and affecting its overall function.
Heart Disease
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Birth control pills can also increase your risk of developing heart disease, which isn't a sole condition, but a grouping of disorders that affect your blood vessels and heart. For the most part, heart disease due to birth control pills usually entails a narrowing of the arteries that affects the function of the heart, reducing the transport of both oxygen and nutrients. This may lead to problems like heart failure, angina or arrhythmias.
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