Taking oral contraceptives while smoking can be a harmful
combination when a woman is exposed to stress.
According to researchers at Arizona State University,
researchers studied 52 smokers and non-smokers, half of
whom were using oral contraceptives.
Investigators administered two psychological tests to see
how stress changed blood levels of various substances, such
as cholesterol. The women were asked to deliver a speech
defending themselves against a false accusation and then
had to perform a math task as quickly as possible during an
eight-minute period.
Researchers found women who smoked and took birth control
pills showed a significantly higher cardiovascular reaction
to the stress than the other women.
The study also showed that smokers who used oral
contraceptives showed higher increases in lipid and
fibrinogen levels. Lipids are fats and fibrinogen is
protein needed for blood clotting.
Total cholesterol and triglyceride levels also rose up to 5
percent in women who smoked. High levels of both can lead
to heart disease.
"Even today the latest types of oral contraceptives with
lower doses of hormones than those of decades ago appear to
have harmful effects when combined with smoking and
stress," says lead researcher Mary C. Davis.
The study appears in the March issue of Health
Psychology.