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HYPERTENSION
AND ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES
-Hypertension
is more common in women taking oral contraceptives especially in older or
obese women. Females who smoke
cigarettes and are 35 and older should be encouraged to quit smoking.
If they choose to continue smoking, then it should be recommended
that the oral contraceptive pills be discontinued.
-Oral
contraceptive agents should be discontinued if a patient develops
hypertension while taking the contraceptives, and the blood pressure usually
returns to normal after the drugs are discontinued.
However, if the hypertenion persists off oral contraceptives,
antihypertensive drugs should be started if the risks of pregnancy outweigh
the risks of hypertenion, and no other contraceptive agents can be used.
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