Birth Control Pills Can Affect Blood Pressure
Oral contraceptives are an effective way to avoid pregnancy, control irregular periods, or address other health concerns, such as acne. However, birth control pills can also affect your blood pressure by elevating it to sometimes unhealthy levels.
How do oral contraceptives affect blood pressure?
One of the main components to the birth control pill is progesterone. According to About.com, “Progesterone is a hormone that can affect blood pressure. The mechanism by which this occurs is complicated, but involves both hormone cascades and direct effect on small blood vessels. Because of these effects, it is possible that taking birth control pills can cause your blood pressure to rise. This increase in blood pressure can range from very mild to potentially serious, and may sometimes warrant discontinuing the birth control”.
It is vital that women talk to their healthcare providers extensively over their medical history. NorthShore University HealthSystem states that some birth control methods may not be safe for you, depending on your health. To make sure a method is right for you, your doctor will need to know if you:
• Smoke.
• Are or could be pregnant.
• Are breast-feeding.
• Have any serious health problems, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, migraine headaches, or diabetes.
• Have had blood clots in the legs (deep vein thrombosis) or lungs (pulmonary embolism), or have a close family member who had blood clots in the legs or lungs.
• Have ever had breast cancer.
• Have a sexually transmitted disease.
In the end, women’s heart health should be the top priority when choosing the right form of birth control.
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