How Does YAZ Cause Heart Attacks?
A heart attack, or myocardial infarction, generally occurs when the flow of oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood to the heart muscle stops. Things like plaque deposits in the arteries along with blood clots and other conditions can lead to a myocardial infarction. Recently, oral contraceptives such as YAZ, Yasmin, and Ocella have been linked to heart attacks because they can cause a woman to develop a condition called hyperkalemia.
YAZ, Yasmin, and Ocella, like other birth control pills, rely on a combination of hormones to control your ovulation. This way, you can prevent ovulation to prevent unwanted pregnancy. However, these forms of oral contraceptives contain a different type of hormone, drospirenone. It is a synthetic progestin, or progesterone. Progestin is a hormone that prohibits the uterus from forming the thick, nutritive layer necessary for egg implantation.
While drospirenone can help prevent pregnancy, it can also raise your potassium to dangerous levels. Potassium is a mineral required by nerve and muscle cells, including those in the heart. If your potassium levels get too high, you can develop a condition called hyperkalemia. Hyperkalemia can cause symptoms such as:
* Nausea
* Loss of consciousness
* Weak or absent pulse
* Cardiac arrhythmia
* Weakness
Over time, you can suffer from complications such as myocardial infarction.
Due to the possible dangers of drospirenone, YAZ manufacturers recommend that people with liver, kidney, or adrenal diseases do not take YAZ, Yasmin, or Ocella. However, there are other risk factors for heart attack that, combined with drospirenone, can make a deadly combination. Some risk factors for heart attack include:
* Increasing age, especially over 35
* Heavy smoking
* Diabetes
* Obesity
* Family history of heart problems
* High stress levels
* High blood pressure
* High cholesterol
If you are taking YAZ, Yasmin, or Ocella, you should talk to your doctor about the risks of this drug. Sadly, though, many people were not aware of the risks of drospirenone before they began taking these oral contraceptives. If you have suffered from cardiac arrest or other adverse health effects due to taking YAZ, Yasmin, or Ocella, you should contact an experienced YAZ lawsuit attorney today.
YAZ, Yasmin, and Ocella, like other birth control pills, rely on a combination of hormones to control your ovulation. This way, you can prevent ovulation to prevent unwanted pregnancy. However, these forms of oral contraceptives contain a different type of hormone, drospirenone. It is a synthetic progestin, or progesterone. Progestin is a hormone that prohibits the uterus from forming the thick, nutritive layer necessary for egg implantation.
While drospirenone can help prevent pregnancy, it can also raise your potassium to dangerous levels. Potassium is a mineral required by nerve and muscle cells, including those in the heart. If your potassium levels get too high, you can develop a condition called hyperkalemia. Hyperkalemia can cause symptoms such as:
* Nausea
* Loss of consciousness
* Weak or absent pulse
* Cardiac arrhythmia
* Weakness
Over time, you can suffer from complications such as myocardial infarction.
Due to the possible dangers of drospirenone, YAZ manufacturers recommend that people with liver, kidney, or adrenal diseases do not take YAZ, Yasmin, or Ocella. However, there are other risk factors for heart attack that, combined with drospirenone, can make a deadly combination. Some risk factors for heart attack include:
* Increasing age, especially over 35
* Heavy smoking
* Diabetes
* Obesity
* Family history of heart problems
* High stress levels
* High blood pressure
* High cholesterol
If you are taking YAZ, Yasmin, or Ocella, you should talk to your doctor about the risks of this drug. Sadly, though, many people were not aware of the risks of drospirenone before they began taking these oral contraceptives. If you have suffered from cardiac arrest or other adverse health effects due to taking YAZ, Yasmin, or Ocella, you should contact an experienced YAZ lawsuit attorney today.
