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Smoking Birth Control
Is there a health risk to smoke when taking birth control pills?
(24 Feb 2010)
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Smoking does not go well with taking birth control pills at all and can pose serious health risks. It can lead to many complications and health problems for women. Cigarettes contain nicotine which acts by increasing the blood pressure and elevating the heart rate.
This puts an added stress on the blood vessels. Birth control pills contain estrogen and this increase of estrogen levels in the body also puts a stress on the blood vessels. As such many health conditions can develop such as blood clots, stroke and even heart attack. Those who smoke heavily are especially at risk for such conditions. Smoking, in general, is harmful for the health and mixing it with birth control pills just aggravates the problem.
Research has shown that women above 35 years of age who smoke above 25 cigarettes per day are 30 times more likely to experience a heart attack. Doctors also advise that women aged 35 years and above should even avoid using nicotine patches and nicotine gum as these too can pose a risk, especially for those who suffer from high blood pressure or diabetes. Those who smoke while taking birth control pills are also at a risk of developing high blood pressure. The reproductive health of a woman is also hampered. Studies have shown that women, who discontinue the birth control pills and try to conceive, face difficulties in doing so, if they have been regular smokers. It is also seen that smoking can increase the risk of a difficult pregnancy. It can have many side effects on the fetus and many also result in stillbirths or spontaneous abortions. Research has found that women who were heavy smokers tended to deliver babies that were more likely to die immediately after birth.
Besides the harmful effects of the cardiovascular system, smoking while taking birth control pills can also increase the risk of gall bladder conditions. Tumors in the liver are also known to occur in such cases. In addition, there may even be impairments in vision. Smoking during all methods of hormonal birth control can be risky. This also includes the patch method. Also, the risks associated with use of the patch increase if the individual is a smoker. If you need to take birth control medication, then it is imperative to quit smoking immediately. Even if you are below the age of thirty years, the risks associated with smoking and birth control pills are still there and they begin to gradually increase as you age.
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answered by G M on 24 Feb 2010, 7:00:58
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