Could The Pill Be Damaging For Your Heart?

In the field of sexual health research, there has been a bit of bad news recently. Women who have been on the oral contraceptive pill for more than five years are facing a serious threat to their wellness and wellbeing through an increased risk of heart disease. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists have released a bulletin, warning the public about the risks that oral contraceptives could pose.

 

This report indicates that women who are on a high dose of oral contraceptives have a much greater risk of developing a blood clot in the vein (thromboembolism), the death of a heart muscle (myocardial infarction) or a stroke.

 

These complications are occurring less and less frequently, however, as a lower dose of hormonal contraceptives becomes more standard. The risk is also being lowered due to better screening of women who are deemed to be high risk. The rates of pill use in women over 35 has also dropped significantly recently, leading to fewer serious side effects.

 

It is rare to suffer from a pill-related heart attack. They occur in only around one in 14,000 people who take the pill and are aged between 30 and 39. Strike is more common, however, occurring around five times more frequently in women of this age group who are taking oral contraceptive pills.

 

Even strokes are a rare event, though, affecting around one in 2,700 women who take the pill. The pill can cause a blood clot to occur more often and thus cause heart attacks and strokes, but this is still a very uncommon side effect. Hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy cause far more blood clots than the hormonal contraceptive pill.

 

Most heart attacks and strokes amongst those who take the contraceptive pill occur in women who also smoke, so to reduce your risk dramatically then cut down on smoking, and quit, as soon as possible.

Categories: blood clot, contraceptive, contraceptive pill, heart, heart attacks, oral contraceptive, oral contraceptives, Pill, risk, Women

What Differentiates A Migraine From A Headache?

The cause of migraines is unknown but the symptoms can be very debilitating – those suffering with a migraine will experience a throbbing, intense headache, far worse than the mild headache we all experience from time to time. During an attack, the blood vessels in the brain dilate and draw together with stimulation from the nerve endings near the affected blood vessels. Researchers agree that these changes to the blood vessels are probably what causes the pain, though they don’t have a full understanding of how a migraine works or what brings them on. Those who suffer with migraines tend to do so because of a predisposition for the condition in their family but, again, it is not fully understood what role genetics play in the development and risk of migraines. Around 20 percent of females and 6 percent of males suffer with migraines, making it a fairly common condition. It’s rare for people to develop them in later life though, as 90 percent of sufferers have their first attack before they’re 40 years old. Researchers suggest hormones are connected to migraines, as many women often find they start getting them around puberty. Most believe that certain foods make the problem worse, so it may be worth avoiding cheese, chocolate, wine and citrus fruits – these can cause an attack. Furthermore, emotional triggers can be worth trying to avoid where possible, such as anxiety, and stress. The contraceptive pill, travel, bright lights and exercise are all connected to migraines according to sufferers.

 

People often refer to a regular headache as a migraine, but there are differences that set these two ailments apart. The ‘classical’ migraine has a variety of specific features, including headaches which affect one side of the head at a time, regular headaches which occur in bouts of roughly four to 72 hours, nausea and vomiting, preceding symptoms such as flashing lights and a blurred vision, and sensitivity symptoms such as sensitivity to light and sound, and a tingling sensation in the body. In rare cases, people with migraines experience a transient loss of the power of a limb, or temporary difficulty with speech, but this is not commonly associated with migraines. The initial diagnosis requires great care, as the first attack of a migraine can look like other serious concerns, such as meningitis or a stroke. However, once several attacks have occurred it makes it easier to spot patterns that can determine whether or not the individual is suffering with a migraine problem.

 

Many women find that the oral contraceptive pill makes attacks worse, and if this is the case then this should be stopped. The best solution when you’re suffering with a migraine is to rest in a quiet, dark room – bright lights can make it worse. You’re best treating a migraine as soon as it starts, as the treatment becomes less effective the longer you’ve had it. The treatment varies depending on your age and the severity of your problem, so you should speak to your GP before buying over the counter remedies if possible. However, simple painkillers can be effective in relieving the symptoms – they’re usually the first form of treatment tried, so may be worth trying if you’re suffering with the symptoms. Some people find that homeopathy helps, including acupuncture. It may be worth speaking to your GP anyway though, in order to ascertain if this is the best course of treatment and also to see if there are any other changes you can make to lower your risk of having an attack.

Categories: Attack, blood vessels, contraceptive pill, headache, migraine, migraines, people, Symptoms

Are You Putting Your Health at Risk With the Pill?

The contraceptive pill has hit the headlines recently for worrying claims that it could be a harmful medication. In a study carried out by Indiana University, researchers discovered that women taking the contraceptive pill felt less sexy overall, had fewer orgasms and less frequent sex, as well as finding it more difficult to become aroused. There is an increasing list of health risks attached to the pill, from breast tenderness and nausea to more serious claims such as blood clots, high blood pressure and even stroke. However, there could now be new risks which aren’t laid out on the list provided by your local family planning clinic which could make you rethink your method of contraception. Long term use of the birth control pill could increase the risk of artery build-ups in your body, which may in turn increase your risk of heart disease. In a study involving 1300 healthy women aged between 35 and 55, there was up to a 30 percent increase in the prevalence of plaque for every 10 years of oral contraceptive use. The researchers highlighted that the plaques were small and not large enough to block an artery, but any plaque is a risk to your heart health. Around 100 million women around the world use oral contraceptives, all of which could now be risking their hearts for the sake of an easy pregnancy preventative.

 

There are many health risks which are increased by the use of the oral contraceptive pill. For example, this form of birth control can more than double your risk of fatal blood clots, as well as making your bones thinner and increasing your blood pressure. Some studies claim that it could also increase your risk of developing cervical and breast cancers. Besides the serious health risks, there are also some unpleasant side effects which many women report to suffer from due to the influx of artificial hormones flowing through the body. These include irregular bleeding or spotting, weight gain, mood changes, migraines and nausea, breast tenderness, and yeast overgrowth or infection. Because there are other options for birth control which don’t rely on hormones, many GPs advise choosing an alternative form of contraception. Such methods include barrier methods which are far safer, if slightly less convenient, such as condoms.

 

With these methods there are no side effects and no toxic chemicals or substances flooding your body every day. There is also the natural family planning method, or NFP, which you should learn from a reliable source but that can leave you empowered by understanding your menstrual cycle better. The temperature method is another alternative, which works by you pinpointing your day of ovulation so that you can avoid intercourse for a few days before and after it. You take your basal body temperature every morning with an accurate basal thermometer so that you can note the rise in temperature after ovulation. Although this method can be unreliable by itself, as your body temperature can change for a number of reasons, when it is combined with the mucus method it can be very accurate in assessing your fertility. The two methods used together can provide a success rate as high as 98 percent. The mucus method works by tracking the changes in the amount and texture of your vaginal discharge. As your oestrogen levels rise in your body, your discharge will alter. Other methods also include female condoms, the diaphragm and cervical cap. Each has its set of pros and cons, but they don’t require hormones which means you can avoid the stress and risk of the damaging side effects.

Categories: Birth Control, blood clots, body temperature, contraception, contraceptive pill, Health Risks, Pill, Side Effects