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Recent research suggests that birth control pills may cause a potentially dangerous buildup of plaque in the arteries. Researchers presented their findings at a meeting of the American Heart Association on Tuesday.

The findings came as a shock to Belgian researchers, since pill use had not previously been linked to increased artery plaque.

“I’m struck by this, because I’m telling patients that there’s no evidence of any increased risk for a woman now because she once used birth control pills. The fact that these investigations have found it warrants further study,” said Sharon Hayes of the Mayo Clinic.

The Research

Researchers at Ghent University in Belgium conducted a study on 1,301 women between the ages of 33 to 55 and found that for every decade of pill use, women were 20% to 30% more likely to have plaque in key arteries.

The average length of pill use for 81% of study participants was 13 years. Ultrasound tests showed that the likelihood of finding plaque in one carotid artery increased 17% for every 10 years of pill use, 42% in both carotid arteries, 28% in one femoral artery, and 34% in both femoral arteries.

“I think it’s a wake-up call. If you’re going to take birth control pills, you need to be aggressive about reducing your other risk factors: smoking, high blood pressure, cholesterol, diet and lifestyle,” said Jennifer Mieres of New York University School of Medicine.

Birth Control Risks

Approximately 12 million women in the United States take the pill, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is the most popular form of birth control the world over.

However, the pill and other forms of birth control such as the Ortho Evra patch are not without risks. Both the pill and the patch are associated with an increased risk of blood clots, and the pill is also known to raise blood pressure.

(Source: USA Today online)

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