Friday, April 18, 2014

Are Contraceptive Pills, A Safe Method Of Birth Control?

Unwanted pregnancy can be the cause of sleepless nights for anyone. There are many ways of preventing pregnancy but the one most commonly resorted to is a hormonal contraceptive commonly referred to as the pill.

Contraceptive pills react with the female’s reproduction system, and abort the pregnancy by shedding the embryo. While, women all over the world commonly use the pill, their side effects are not brought in question as often as they should.

The pill enters the blood stream directly; and anything that it does is bound to have some potential repercussions.

The following are the most common side-effects of the OCPs (Oral contraceptives):

  • Nausea
  • Headache
  • Palpitation
  • Physical pain
  • Fever

The most common hormone used in birth control pills is estrogen. Although, there is another new generation hormone, incorporated in some pills, known as drospirenone. The side effects of pills such as yaz, yasmin, gianvi, ocella and so on, that come with drospirenone, are even more severe and be twice as devastating than earlier generations.

Yasmin can even lead to death and this is why:

The most prominent way in which drospirenone damages the body is by increasing the likelihood of internal blood clots forming in the blood stream.

This in turn, puts the subject’s life in acute danger.

In the most severe cases, the following may be observed:

  • Blindness
  • DVT – Deep Vein Thrombosis
  • PE – Pulmonary Embolism
  • Death

DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) is when the blood clot forms in one of the deep veins of the body, usually the thigh or the lower legs. It obstructs blood flow and caused swelling and redness.

However, when it really becomes dangerous is when the blood clot breaks loose and travels to vital organs of the body, such as the lung. This condition is known as a PE or Pulmonary Embolism. When the clot obstructs the flow of oxygen to the lungs, death becomes a very real possibility.

Remember, people that have a genetic predisposition to thrombosis (clots) should avoid OCP at all costs. However, even others ought to bear in mind that pills are called hormonal pills for a reason and anything artificial injected into the body can have consequences.

So, to answer the original question, no, contraceptive pills are not safe at all. You should explore all other modes to avoid pregnancy rather than risk using a pill with some nasty potential consequences. If you use a pill consider the risks, and different pills have different levels of danger.

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Remember! Never Pop Pills Without A Doctor’s Consent

You must have heard this a hundred times, “Do not use this medicine without the supervision of a qualified physician.” There is good reason for that.

Every pill has the potential to reach within the human body in an adverse manner. This is not just limited to antibiotics or highly complicated anti-anxiety or anti-depressant pills, but also goes for elective products that people may think are just “benign” like birth control pills as well.

The very fact, that the way pills are meant to work, are by dissolving in your blood stream and complicating and changing your hormones, means you should think twice before taking them and consider only take them when completely necessarily.

Consulting a physician first is important because only he can deem, whether you need that pill or not and discuss with you the consequences and alternatives. He would examine the severity of your case, your medical history, and your current health status, and then suggest what if anything is best for your case.

Below is a list of certain pills along with how they might potentially react:

Antacids- Potential side effects include milk-alkali syndrome, alkalosis, renal failure, and hypercalcemia. Dehydration and Vomiting are more common side-effects and are observed in people that consume large amounts of antacids at the same time. The main use of these side effects is from the incorporation of calcium in antacids.

Pain killers- We don’t really think before consuming painkillers, do we? Well, we should because the list of their adverse effects include agitation, lowered blood pressure, muscle contractions, nausea, ED, and even seizures and hallucinations. Also, addiction is a major problem.

Birth control pills- Their effects may be extremely adverse. They alter the hormones of a woman to avert pregnancy. Side effects include deep vein thrombosis, DVT, pulmonary embolism, PE, Blindness, Cardiac health issues, stroke, sagittal vein thrombosis and potential death. The negative consequences of consuming pills like yaz and yasmin have led many women to resort to a yaz lawyer to try and obtain compensation for their loss.

Sleeping Pills- Again, may be fatal in nature. They cause lung issues while breathing, and make breathing slower and shallower. Other side effects include burning sensation, stomach issues, dehydration, headaches, fits, and weakness.

Muscle relaxers- They are effective, but also very strong. They can possible cause cardiac arrest or paralysis. Wooziness is the most common side effect of muscle relaxants, followed by weakness or vomiting. In extreme cases, unconsciousness and hallucinations are also a possibility.

Remember, to be completely candid and transparent with your doctor, regardless of the nature of your issues. Doctors understand the need for confidentiality with their patients, and the same helps them lend helpful advice. The more information you communicate to them, the better they can diagnose and form a solution for whatever ails you.