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Oral Contraceptives May Be Linked to Atherosclerosis

By Thaddeus M. Baklinski

July 12, 2008 (LifesiteNews.com) - Evidence continues to increase about the harmful effects of oral contraceptive use.

An article by Dr. David Brownstein (http://www.drbrownstein.com/blog.asp?id=124) refers to a study on oral contraceptive use and the link to increased arterial plaque, reported by LifeSiteNews.com earlier this year (Birth Control Pill Linked to Hardening of the Arteries, http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/apr/08040807.html).

The study revealed that each 10 year use of oral contraceptives was associated with a 42% increase risk of bilateral carotid (the arteries in the neck) plaque. There was also a 34% increase risk of femoral artery (leg) plaque.

Commenting on the summary to this research which stated, "The finding was quite a shock. But, there is no need to panic. The next step should be to look at other data sets that include women who used oral contraceptives to see if the finding is replicated," Dr. Brownstein said, "Can you imagine if a supplement was found to cause a 42% increase risk of plaque in the carotid arteries? There would be an immediate call for the removal of the supplement and congressional hearings would commence."

"Oral contraceptives totally disrupt the normal hormonal cascade. When the hormonal system is disrupted, cardiovascular disease, cancer, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and other serious illnesses will increase.  My clinical experience has clearly shown that it is impossible to adequately treat these illnesses if there is an imbalanced hormonal system. I do not recommend the use of oral contraceptives for any reason."

While manufacturers have reduced the hormone content of oral contraceptives due to the serious side effects and health risks being reported, more and more evidence is showing the life-threatening consequences of the use of the Pill.

The US Food and Drug Administration issued a warning soon after the Pill's introduction in the 1960s saying that "never would so many people take such a potent drug voluntarily over such a long period for a reason other than to cure disease."

"Since probably no substance, even common table salt, and certainly no effective drug, can be taken over a long period of time without some risk," the advisory committee warned, the pill's potential side effects "must be recognized and kept under continual surveillance." (http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/CONSUMER/CON00027.html)

Read related LifeSiteNews.com articles:

More and More Seeing that "The Pill Kills"
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/may/08051209.html

Major U.S. Study Shows Oral Contraceptives Increase Breast Cancer Risk 44 %
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/oct/06102502.html

The Pill: "the largest unregulated human trial that's ever been conducted"
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/mar/06030705.html

Canadian Physicians Group Warns of Dangers of "Morning After Pill"
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2004/may/04052005.html

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