Oral contraceptive use may increase risk of high blood pressure

1 in 4 Americans have high blood pressure and in 90% of cases, the cause is unknown. A recent report in the General Dentistry claims that oral contraceptives are the main cause of secondary hypertension in women. As many as 5% of high dosage contraceptive users will have high blood pressure related to the use of the pill. High blood pressure increases the risk of heart disease and stroke so women should use low dose birth control pills or stop using them altogether. Symptoms of very high blood pressure include headache, dizziness, confusion and tingling in hands and feet. Risk factors for high blood pressure include race, stress, obesity, smoking, heavy drinking, genetics, age and lack of exercise.

Source: summary of medical news story as reported by Eurekalert - Academy of General Dentistry

Related Disease Topics:

• High blood pressure
• Hypertension
• Pregnancy
• Stress
• Obesity
• Smoking
• Alcoholism

Related Symptom Topics:

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Confusion
• Tingling in hands
• Tingling in feet

Article Source Details

About: Oral contraceptive use may increase risk of high blood pressure

Date: 10 December 2004

Source: Eurekalert - Academy of General Dentistry

Author: Jennifer Starkey

URL: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2004-12/aogd-ho121004.php

Related Medical Topics

This summary article refers to the following medical categories:

• Birth control
• Medication
• Exercise
• Medication and high blood pressure
• Medication and hypertension
• Medication and pregnancy
• Medication and stress
• Medication and obesity
• Medication and smoking
• Medication and alcoholism
• Medication and headache
• Medication and dizziness
• Medication and confusion
• Medication and tingling in hands
• Medication and tingling in feet
• Risk and high blood pressure
• Risk and hypertension
• Risk and pregnancy
• Risk and stress
• Risk and obesity
• Risk and smoking
• Risk and alcoholism
• Risk and headache
• Risk and dizziness
• Risk and confusion
• Risk and tingling in hands
• Risk and tingling in feet
• Cause of high blood pressure
• Cause of hypertension

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