Birth control pills are an excellent way for women to take control of their own fertility. These pills also offer options for women who suffer from irregular cycles, severe cramping, or other problems related to menstruation or hormonal balance. However, it's vitally important for pill users to avoid smoking. Smokers who take the pill increase their vulnerability to heart disease many fold. This correlation is well documented, and a serious safety concern. Women who are over the age of thirty-five, who have very high blood pressure, or who have diabetes or high cholesterol can also find that their risk of heart problems is increased by taking birth control pills.

Women who take birth control pills have an increased risk of heart disease because of a change in the proteins in their blood. C-reactive proteins are produced in the liver in response to inflammation, which is believed to play a key role in hardening and narrowing of the arteries. Chronically high C-reactive protein levels are linked to heart disease. It's thought that the use of oral contraceptives can cause inflammation that produces this protein. In a study of levels of this protein from thirty women who took birth control pills, none of whom were at serious risk for heard disease, C-reactive protein levels were twice as high as in women who weren't on the pill. However, this level was in the normal range, so women who don't have another risk category in their lives shouldn't have to worry about getting heart disease from the pill.

The only women who need to really worry about their risk of developing heart disease in association with the pill are those who already have some risk of the problem in the first place. People who are overweight, diabetic, or have other problems are at some increased risk, as are light or social smokers. However, the categories of women who will suffer the most from pill-related heart trouble are heavy smokers. Women who smoke more than twenty five cigarettes a day and take a low dose birth control pill on a daily basis have a thirty times greater risk of heart problems.

If you're taking birth control, and you fall into any of these risk categories, there are some signs you should watch out for. If you're suffering from blurred vision, pain in your arms or upper body, serious headaches or trouble breathing, you could be at risk for pill-related heart problems. Other signs of trouble can include spitting up blood, yellowing of your eyes or skin, swelling or pain in your legs, lumps in the breasts, or unusual vaginal bleeding. If you have any of these symptoms, you should call 911 immediately, as you could suffer from a heart attack.

The good news is that most people won't have trouble with heart disease risk increasing to a dangerous level just by taking the pill. In fact, the risk was higher with the older, high-dose pills. Modern, low-dose oral contraceptives contain less estrogen, reducing the risk of blood clots, heart attacks, and strokes in even the highest risk categories. It's important to monitor your heart health, whether you're on the pill or not, and keep an eye open for the risk symptoms, however. Anyone could be a victim of a heart attack or related problem at any time. Therefore, it's always a good idea to be careful.

Current nonsmoking birth control users under the age of thirty-five can rest a little easier. High dose birth control pills posed a much higher heart risk, even to this category of women, but low dose pills are quite safe. Women who smoke, or who are old enough that their risk has begun to increase, however, may wish to look into alternate birth control methods.