Newer contraceptives lower heart risk

Newer oral contraceptives may decrease the risk of heart attack significantly, research published in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests.The study conducted researchers at the Leiden University Medical Centre shows that third generation oral contraceptives reduce the risk of a heart attack by half as compared to first and second-generation birth control pills. Birth control pills are a combination of the hormones oestrogen and progesterone. There are many compounds of progesterone that are used in these combinations. Second generation pills typically contain a combination of oestrogen and progesterone, levonorgestrel. Third generation pills contain oestrogen and progesterones, gestodene and desogestrel. The study found that whereas the risk of a heart attack was 2.8% for first generation pill users, it was reduced to 2.4% in second-generation users and to 1.3% in third generation pill users. Apart from the combination of hormones affecting the chances of heart trouble, it was seen that smokers are 13 times more likely to suffer from an attack than non-smokers. The increased risk was not observed in the age group of 18-24 years. The study was conducted in the Netherlands on more than 900 women who had suffered a heart attack within the study period. The researchers have however, cautioned that the results of the study needs to be investigated further since not many women are currently using third generation contraceptives and thus the data is not enough to be conclusive. The study is important in terms of disease prevention since the number of women using birth control pills is increasing in developing countries. The scenario seems to be changing in the urban Indian society also and thus an India based research in this area would be fruitful.