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Birth Control and Serious Medical Conditions
Before making any choice as to any medication, it is very important to be fully informed as to the risks associated with taking the drug in question. When it comes to oral contraceptive pills (OCs), there are numerous serious medical conditions that are not compatible with birth control pills. In other cases, women who have other conditions, such as being overweight or smokers, they are advised to seek medical advice before they begin taking birth control pills. Here are some of the most serious side effects that taking oral contraceptives can have:
Cardiac arrhythmia is a condition in which the heart acts erratically. It may beat too quickly or slowly, and may occur on a regular or occasional basis. At worst, cardiac arrhythmia can be life threatening and results in cardiac arrest. Cardiac arrest is another risk of birth control pills and occurs when the heart stops circulating blood around the body. If treated early enough, the heart can be started again however any delay often results in fatality. Other heart problems include extrasystoles (erratic heart rhythm), bradycardia (abnormally slow heart rate) and heart attacks.
Women who use birth control pills that contain estrogen are at a significantly increased risk (between three and six times more likely) of thromboembolism, or blood clots. Blood clots can lead to more serious health problems such as heart attack, stroke or deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
Women smokers over the age of thirty-five and who use the contraceptive pill are at a particularly high risk of developing clots. Deep vein thrombosis can cause swelling and pain, and may lead to other health complications such as pulmonary embolism. This is a blood clot that forms elsewhere in the body (usually in the legs) and travels to the lungs. If the clot is so large as to block the main blood supply to the lungs it is potentially fatal.
Another potential risk of oral contraceptives is known as sudden death, or Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndrome. This is a disorder of the electricity in the heart that leads to a sudden death of someone who had until that time appeared completely healthy. Other health problems associated with the contraceptive pill are: hyperkalemia, which is caused by increased potassium levels in the blood) and which can have fatal consequences; gallbladder disease, in which the gallbladder (the organ that produces bile) forms gallstones from cholesterol, bile salts and calcium.
Other less serious, but still worrying, side effects include blurred vision, chest pain, headaches and nausea, sudden weight gain or loss, depression and/or feelings of hopelessness. If you or someone you love has experienced side effects after taking Yaz or Yasmin, speak to a specialist defective drug attorney without delay.
