Risk Factors and Birth Control

Risk factors are things that are important when considering the possibility of developing heart disease or metabolic syndrome. There are two different kinds of risk factors. One type of risk factor is called a major risk factor. The other is called a contributing risk factor. 

Major risk factors are things that have been proven to increase the risk of heart disease. Major known risk factors are:

High blood cholesterol High blood pressure Obesity, a high body mass index (BMI) or being overweight Diabetes Smoking Being physically inactive Gender Heredity Age

Contributing risk factors are things that doctors and researchers think can lead to an increased risk of heart disease, but what their exact contributing role is has not been totally defined. Known contributing risk factors are:

Stress Sex hormones Birth control pills

If you smoke or have other risk factors birth control pills can multiply your risk, especially if you are over 35. Birth control pills increase your risk of heart disease, and raise the possibility of blood clots.







Earlier versions of birth control pills were more of a risk factor than they are now. Because of the increased safety, birth control is less of a contributing factor now, unless the situation is complicated by a person’s lifestyle.

Making lifestyle changes can help people control both major and contributing risk factors in that may cause heart disease.