Most cases of PE occur as the result of small clots in the arteries of the lungs. In this case, the condition is rarely life-threatening. It’s important to note, however, that a large clot can trigger a massive pulmonary embolism that leads to the death of the patient. It is estimated that one in ten people who experience a PE die within an hour of the first symptoms.

The clots responsible for a PE seldom form in the arteries of the lungs; they typically form in the legs. Below, you’ll learn how they travel to the lungs, and how a vena cava filter can be installed to catch them before they cause a blockage.

How Blood Clots In The Legs Can Cause A PE

All combination birth control pills contain estrogen. Yaz is one of the few oral contraceptives that also contains drospirenone, a synthetic progestin. Studies have shown birth control formulations containing estrogen and drospirenone pose a much higher risk of abnormal clotting over alternative formulations.

Clots often form in the femoral or popliteal veins of the legs. Whenever you move your legs, the muscles squeeze these veins, sending oxygen-depleted blood to your heart. Unfortunately, this activity can also dislodge existing blood clots, causing them to embolize. Detached from the venous wall, the emboli can be carried by your bloodstream toward your heart.

After blood arrives in your heart, it is pumped into your pulmonary arteries in order to receive oxygen from your lungs. Emboli are pumped in the same direction. They can travel downstream within one of these arteries until they become lodged and trigger a PE.

Preventing A Yaz Pulmonary Embolism Event

Doctors can address a pulmonary embolism by administering anticoagulants and thrombolytic medications. Large, life-threatening clots can be resolved with more aggressive measures, such as suction thrombectomy and pulmonary embolectomy.

If possible, however, your doctor will want to prevent a PE from occurring in the first place. One of the treatment strategies used to accomplish this goal is to install a vena cava filter.

When Is A Vena Cava Filter Used?

The preferred method for preventing a PE is to treat blood clots that are already present within the deep veins of the legs. This is usually done with anticoagulants; large clots that pose an immediate risk can be dissolved with thrombolytic drugs. In cases where these medications are contraindicated or insufficient, the next best solution is a vena cava filter.

Blood travels from your legs to your heart through the inferior vena cava. This is a large vein that connects your lower extremities to your heart. A filter can be installed within this vein to prevent emboli from reaching your lungs.

Prior to installation, your doctor will perform a venogram to identify a suitable installation site. Once a site is chosen, a filter is collapsed and attached to a catheter. The catheter is inserted into a blood vessel near the groin (usually, the femoral vein) and passed through the vena cava to the selected site. The filter is then deployed (i.e. opened) at the site before the catheter is withdrawn and the entry site is closed. The entire procedure can normally be completed within thirty minutes.

Installing a vena cava filter can help prevent Yaz problems involving pulmonary embolism when anticoagulants and thrombolytic drugs cannot be used. However, because the filter is a foreign entity within your body, it can cause clots. In rare cases, these clots can break away from the filter and cause a PE.

If you have suffered from abnormal blood clots, pulmonary embolism, gallbladder disease or other Yasmin, Ocella or Yaz side effects, you may have the right to file a claim for compensation. Contact a Yaz lawsuit lawyer to discuss your case.

These veins are surrounded by muscles. The muscles contract around them, and pump blood into your inferior vena cava, a large vein that delivers deoxygenated blood to the right side of your heart. These contractions can also dislodge clots. If this happens, the thrombi will travel with your bloodstream toward your heart. If they migrate into your lungs, they will trigger a PE, which in turn, may cause pulmonary hypertension. Both conditions are potentially life-threatening.

Permanent Lung Scarring

Your lungs receive blood from the right side of your heart via the pulmonary arteries. If an embolus is pumped from the right ventricle (i.e. lower chamber of the heart) into one of these arteries, it may cause an obstruction. If the passage of blood becomes completely blocked, the section of lung tissue supplied by the blocked artery will begin to starve.

Your lung tissue will not die immediately. Even in the event it sustains damage, it can heal. But this is predicated on your doctor’s ability to diagnose the condition quickly and accurately, and treat it before damage can spread. If too much time passes, the affected tissue will begin to scar. At that point, much of the damage becomes permanent.

Scarred lung tissue cannot oxygenate blood for the rest of your body. Thus, substantial scarring can result in damage to your other organs. You may also experience difficulty maintaining strenuous activity for extended periods.

Rising Blood Pressure In The Heart And Lungs

When a pulmonary embolism restricts the passage of blood through a pulmonary artery, your heart’s right ventricle starts to work harder. It pumps more aggressively in order to move the same volume of blood through the constricted space. The result is rising blood pressure in the lungs and the right side of your heart. This is a condition known as pulmonary hypertension.

Blood Clots In The Heart’s Chambers

One of the potential side effects caused by the rising blood pressure in your heart and lungs is an irregular heartbeat (i.e. arrhythmia). There are many types of arrhythmias, including premature atrial and ventricular contractions and various tachycardias. One form of arrhythmia called atrial fibrillation is particularly problematic because it poses a high risk of clotting in the heart.

With atrial fibrillation, the atria (i.e. the heart’s two upper chambers) flutter rapidly rather than beating in a uniform manner. This erratic rhythm prevents the chambers from emptying properly. Blood is allowed to pool and grow stagnant within them, which eventually leads to clots. If these clots develop within the left atrium or ventricle, they can exit the heart, and travel to a carotid artery. There, they can cause a stroke.

Right Ventricular Failure

As the blood pressure in your heart and lungs continues to rise, the workload placed upon the right ventricle increases. The ventricle persists, and pumps harder in order to push blood toward the lungs. To increase its capacity, the chamber becomes larger and thicker. But eventually, it wears out, ending in right-sided heart failure. While the condition is not always fatal, it may become so in the absence of quick treatment.

Doctors are supposed to warn women about the dangers of blood clots involving pulmonary embolism posed by this birth control pill. But many women remain unaware of the serious medical problems that can result. If you have suffered DVT, PE, pulmonary hypertension, or other Yaz side effects, you may be able to file a claim against the manufacturer. Contact a Yaz lawsuit lawyer to discuss your options.

A DVT typically occurs in the legs. It is accompanied by pain and swelling as circulation becomes increasingly impaired. More worrisome, however, is that the condition may lead to pulmonary embolism, stroke, and other serious side effects. Given the right set of circumstances, a clot that forms in your legs can potentially lead to heart failure.

Blood Clot Migration From A DVT

Clots form along the walls of blood vessels where they remain attached until other forces intervene. In the case of DVT, the deep veins are buried within muscles. When you move your legs, these muscles contract around the veins. The contractions essentially pump blood from your legs to your heart and lungs, where the blood is replenished with oxygen.

The force of the muscles’ contractions can dislodge thrombi that are attached to the venous wall. The clots become emboli, free to roam with your bloodstream. As blood is pushed from your legs to your heart, so, too, are the detached clots.

The deep veins in your lower extremities drain into the inferior vena cava, the lower part of the largest blood vessel in your body. The inferior vena cava leads directly to your heart, and empties into the right atrium (i.e. one of the two upper chambers). From there, blood moves into the right ventricle before being pumped to your pulmonary arteries.

Unfortunately, emboli travel along this same path. They move into the pulmonary arteries and migrate downstream until they form a blockage, which prevents blood from reaching your lung tissue. This is a pulmonary embolism. In severe cases, it can be fatal.

The Effects On The Lungs And Heart

While Yaz problems caused by a PE should always be considered a medical emergency, the condition rarely results in death. More commonly, it causes lung tissue damage, and thus impairs the affected lung’s ability to oxygenate your blood. You may experience shortness of breath, chest pain, and persistent coughing. But a pulmonary embolism may have more serious side effects on your lungs and heart.

When a blockage exists within a pulmonary artery, your heart is forced to pump harder in order to deliver sufficient blood to your lungs. This increases the level of pressure in your lungs, a condition known as pulmonary hypertension. As your blood pressure rises, the right side of your heart tries to offset the increased workload; its walls becomes thicker and the ventricle expands.

This event is known as cor pulmonale. Unfortunately, this response only works for a short time. The pressure eventually places so much stress on your right ventricle that it fails.

When The Right Side Of Your Heart Fails

Symptoms of right ventricular failure often develop gradually, giving you an opportunity to seek medical care. You might notice progressive swelling in your legs due to fluid retention. You will also experience a marked shortness of breath that becomes steadily more pronounced. Because the right side of your heart is unable to pump sufficient blood to your lungs, less becomes available for the rest of your body. This eventually results in hypovolemic shock, a precursor to death.

In order for a deep vein thrombosis to lead to heart failure, an unlikely series of events much occur. But the risk is real. Nine out of ten cases of pulmonary embolism are caused by blood clots that travel from the deep veins in the legs to the lungs. Pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular failure may follow.

If you or someone you know has suffered DVT, PE, or gallbladder disease side effects, you may have the right to file a claim for compensation. Contact an experienced Yaz lawyer to discuss your case.

Yasmin blood clots form in the absence of venous or arterial injuries. That is, their development lies outside your body’s natural clotting – and clot-dissolving – mechanism. They often form in the deep veins of the body (typically, in the legs), where they pose a risk of the following serious health complications.

Deep Vein Thrombosis And Post-Thrombotic Syndrome

One of the most common sites of Yaz blood clot problems is in the deep veins of the calves and thighs. This condition is known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT). While symptoms are occasionally absent, DVT is typically accompanied by pain and swelling in the affected leg. Both are due to poor venous circulation as clots impair blood flow.

One of the consequences of DVT is valve damage (known as post-thrombotic syndrome). The deep veins are equipped with one-way valves that ensure blood flows in one direction (i.e. toward your heart). Yaz blood clots cause inflammation in these valves, which damages them. They become unable to perform their job. As a result, blood begins to pool within the veins, causing further damage to the valves and increased swelling.

Pulmonary Embolism And Hypertension

DVT poses another danger. Blood clots can break off from the venous wall (i.e. embolize) and be carried along with the bloodstream. The deep veins of your legs drain into the inferior vena cava. This is a large vein that delivers oxygen-poor blood to the right side of your heart. If clots within your legs embolize, they can be carried through the vena cava and into your heart.

Blood is pumped by the right side of your heart into your pulmonary arteries. Clots that are present are also pumped into these arteries. They travel downstream until they form an obstruction, preventing blood from reaching the underlying lung tissue. This causes a pulmonary embolism, which can lead to lung damage.

A blockage in the pulmonary arteries will also cause blood pressure to rise in the lungs. This is called pulmonary hypertension. Your heart’s right side will begin to work harder in order to pump a sufficient volume of blood to your lungs. To compensate, it grows larger and thickens. Eventually, however, it succumbs to the added stress, leading to right-sided heart failure.

Stroke And Heart Attack

If Yaz side effects involving blood clots that originated in the legs gain access to the left side of your heart, they can cause a stroke or heart attack. This can occur if an atrial septal defect (ASD) exists. ASD is a hole in the wall that separates the left and right sides of your heart; it allows clots to cross from the right atrium to the left atrium. Once they have crossed to the left side, clots can leave your heart and migrate into the aorta.

Your aorta is a large artery that delivers oxygen-rich blood to every area of your body. Yaz blood clots that emerge from your heart can travel from the aorta into the carotid arteries or the coronary arteries. Your carotid arteries feed blood and oxygen to your brain. An obstruction will set off a stroke. Your coronary arteries supply your heart. If they become blocked, you will experience a heart attack.

Blood clots pose greater risks than many women realize. They can obstruct major arteries and cause a pulmonary embolism, hypertension, stroke, or heart attack. If you have suffered abnormal clotting, DVT, or other Yaz side effects, you may be able to file a claim for compensation for your injuries. Contact an experienced Yaz lawsuit 2010 attorney to discuss your case.

Unlike a pulmonary embolism, which can be fatal in severe cases, PH is rarely so. However, it is no less serious a condition, and can lead to lifelong complications.

The Link Between PE And Pulmonary Hypertension

The majority of PE cases occur when clots in the deep veins embolize. That is, they break free of the venous lining and travel with the bloodstream toward your heart and lungs. As blood flows from the heart to the lungs to receive oxygen, these clots can move into one of your lung arteries. If they become lodged within these blood vessels, they can prevent blood from reaching your lung tissue. This triggers a pulmonary embolism.

Clots that migrate into the pulmonary arteries and cause a partial blockage will still allow blood to reach your lung tissue. However, the right side of your heart will need to work harder in order to push blood through the restricted passage. This causes the blood pressure in your lung arteries to rise, a condition known as pulmonary hypertension.

Both PE and PH can originate from the same root cause: Yaz blood clots in the leg veins. While the side effects of PH are typically milder than those that accompany PE, complications may still occur.

Potential Complications Of Pulmonary Hypertension

With PH, your symptoms may include dizziness, chest pain, shortness of breath, and an accelerated heartbeat. These side effects can usually be treated with medications (we’ll address this in more detail below). Of greater concern are complications that stem from the increased workload placed upon your heart.

In the absence of high blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries, the right side of your heart is less muscular than the left side. This is because less muscle is needed to pump blood into your lungs than to pump it into your aorta. With pulmonary hypertension, the right side is forced to work harder. The right ventricle expands and thickens in order to handle the increased pressure. Unfortunately, this is a temporary solution. The right ventricle eventually fails under the strain – a condition known as cor pulmonale.

Another problem involves clotting. Because blood is unable to flow freely through the restricted pulmonary artery, a portion may pool within the right ventricle. This sets the stage for clots to form within the chamber. As with DVT, the clots can embolize and roam into the lung arteries, triggering a pulmonary embolism.

How Pulmonary Hypertension Is Treated

Treatment for PH is different than that used to resolve or control Yaz blood clot problems. The condition seldom warrants invasive procedures, such as suction thrombectomy (a catheter-based technique) or pulmonary embolectomy (i.e. surgery). At the same time, your doctor will want to prevent PH from causing cor pulmonale, ventricular clotting, or pulmonary embolism. This is accomplished with medications.

Vasodilators are useful if the restricted blood vessel has dilated. These are drugs that widen the passage in order to increase blood flow and reduce arterial blood pressure. Calcium channel blockers may also be helpful in widening the passage. Diuretics might be given if excess fluid has accumulated; they help reduce the pressure placed on the right ventricle. Anticoagulants are usually prescribed to minimize the likelihood of clotting in the chamber.

In extreme cases, pulmonary hypertension may require an open-chest operation called atrial septostomy. A surgeon will make a small hole between the left and right atria of the heart. This reduces the pressure placed on the right side of your heart, but can lead to further complications.

As noted earlier, pulmonary hypertension is less serious than a pulmonary embolism. But both can be caused by deep vein thrombosis. If you have suffered Ocella, Yasmin or Yaz side effects involving DVT, PE, or other gallbladder side effects after using this oral contraceptive, find out about your legal rights. Contact a Yaz lawsuit settlements attorney to discuss your options.

Clotting disorders can occur within your veins or arteries. Both circumstances present unique risks. Doctors will use a range of tests to diagnose the presence of thrombi, depending on their suspected location, your medical history, symptoms, and immediate risks to your health.

Venous Versus Arterial Clots

Your veins deliver blood to your heart and lungs. After blood has received oxygen from your lungs, it travels to your organs and tissues through your arteries. This is an important distinction to make in the context of understanding the dangers posed by venous and arterial thrombi.

Venous blood clots – especially those located in the deep veins – cause redness, swelling, and persistent pain. Severe clotting disorders can lead to valve damage, which in turn, can cause pooling and further clotting. If thrombi form within the deep veins (a condition known as deep vein thrombosis, or DVT), they can break free and travel to your heart.

Arterial blood clots present an immediate danger. They can deprive your lungs, brain, or heart of oxygen-rich blood. This deprivation causes pulmonary embolism, stroke, and heart attack (respectively).

Most cases of Yasmin and Yaz causing blood clot problems involve the deep veins and arteries (as opposed to superficial veins that lie near the skin’s surface). For this reason, doctors’ efforts to diagnose thrombi are focused on these areas.

Diagnosing Deep Venous Blood Clots

When blood clots are suspected within the deep veins (typically in the legs), doctors will normally use ultrasonography to form a diagnosis. A device called a transducer is positioned near the suspected site and used to send sound waves through the skin. These ultrasound waves penetrate the tissue before returning to the transducer. The signals are transmitted to a computer, which composes an image of your deep veins. Clots can often be identified in these images.

If ultrasonography fails to produce a clear image, or the physician is unable to identify suspected thrombi, venography may be done. A contrast dye is introduced into the veins and x-rays are taken. The dye shows up on the x-rays and displays the anatomy of the venous network in a format that is clearer than the images composed through ultrasound.

Your doctor may decide to order CT and MRI scans as an intermediary step between ultrasonography and venography. These scans are noninvasive and can create images of your venous network that display thrombi. However, they are usually reserved for diagnosing arterial clots.

Diagnosing Arterial Blood Clots

When a thrombus is suspected within a key artery (e.g. pulmonary, carotid, or coronary), your doctor may order a CT angiogram. This is a variant of a conventional computed tomography scan. It is one of the first tests done to help diagnose a Yasmin pulmonary embolism. A contrast dye is injected to display clots located within your lung arteries. The test is reasonably accurate and quick.

Another test used to diagnose thrombi within the arteries is called magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI. This test uses radio waves to construct detailed images of your arterial network. It is harmless, accurate, and fast.

A growing number of women who have experienced blood clots and their related side effects are exploring whether they should file a Yaz lawsuit. If you have suffered clotting disorders, pulmonary embolism, gallbladder problems or stroke after using any of these oral contraceptive, contact a Yaz attorney. Invest the time to learn about your legal rights. Please contact us for the latest litigation updates including information regarding Yaz settlements as the cases move forward.

There are two types of blood thinners: anticoagulants and antiplatelets. Both work differently to prevent clotting and both pose potential side effects. If you or a family member has suffered from Yasmin or Yaz side effects please contact us and one of our Yaz attorneys will help explain your legal options.

Anticoagulant Therapy For Yasmin Blood Clots

The most common anticoagulants are warfarin (a generic form of Coumadin) and heparin. The former comes in pill form and requires a few days to begin taking effect. The latter is administered intravenously or through injection, and takes effect immediately. Some conditions, such as pulmonary embolism or severe deep vein thrombosis, are serious enough to warrant both. However, as soon as warfarin begins to have an effect, heparin is stopped.

Warfarin works by reducing your body’s production of vitamin K. This vitamin is partly responsible for managing the proteins in your blood that contribute to clotting. By disrupting its production, warfarin hampers your body’s ability to create clots.

Heparin works differently than warfarin to promote the same outcome. Rather than inhibiting the production of vitamin K, it activates a protein molecule called antithrombin III. Once activated, this molecule deactivates some of the enzymes used to form clots (notably, thrombin).

Antiplatelet Drugs For Yasmin Blood Clots

Antiplatelets are used in conjunction with anticoagulants to treat problems related to abnormal clotting. They perform their job by inhibiting the activity of small cells in your blood called platelets.

When you suffer an injury, platelets arrive at the scene and begin aggregating. They stick to each other and form a covering over the injury. This helps to stop the bleeding and allows your body to begin the healing process. Antiplatelet medications reduce the adhesive quality of these platelets. As a result, they become less capable of sticking together.

Potential Side Effects Of Blood Thinners

Both anticoagulants and antiplatelets pose a high risk of bleeding, which can occur anywhere in the body, including the brain. Profuse bleeding can be potentially fatal. For this reason, both types of blood thinners may be inappropriate for some patients, such as those who have recently undergone surgery.

Other potential side effects include abdominal pain, chest pain, swollen face and hands, and difficulty breathing. Some patients experience lightheadedness and severe headaches. Others report having trouble swallowing or hearing a persisting ringing in their ears. Patients experience side effects differently and with varying levels of intensity.

If you suffer from Yaz deep vein thrombosis or other clot-related issues, the severity of the condition will influence whether anticoagulants and antiplatelets are used. For example, a single event of DVT may prompt your doctor to prescribe warfarin. But therapy is usually stopped after a few months to prevent the onset of side effects. On the other hand, serious events, such as stroke, pulmonary embolism, and heart attack, usually require a more aggressive approach.

Treating Blood Clot Problems

Otherwise healthy women have suffered abnormal blood clots after taking Yaz and Yasmin birth control pills. Rather than forming to heal wounds or repair venous injuries, these clots develop as the result of estrogen and drospirenone, a synthetic progestin contained in these birth control pills. When clots develop in the deep veins of your legs and calves, they can become detached and travel to your heart. If this occurs, they can clog major arteries and trigger life-threatening medical events. Unfortunately, anticoagulants and antiplatelets are merely a short-term solution due to the potential side effects of using them.

If you have suffered from blood clots, DVT, pulmonary embolism, or other Yasmin side effects, take the time to learn about your legal rights including filing a Yaz lawsuit. Contact one of our Yasmin attorneys who will investigate your case.

Because Yaz combines estrogen with an artificial hormone called drospirenone, it sharply increases the risk of blood clots. Yaz DVT is a condition in which these clots form within a deep vein (typically in the lower leg). If the clots break loose, they can travel with your bloodstream toward your lungs. This puts you at risk of suffering pulmonary embolism.

There are several ways to treat Yaz DVT. Below, we’ll focus primarily on how a vena cava filter is used to catch blood clots before they reach your pulmonary arteries. We’ll also take a brief look at other forms of treatment.

How A Vena Cava Filter Is Used

The treatment of choice for blood clots caused by Yaz birth control pills is anticoagulant therapy. This is administered with heparin or warfarin (Coumadin). If these anticoagulants are ineffective in preventing further clotting, or your body tolerates them poorly, a vena cava filter can be used.

Your inferior vena cava is the largest vein in your body. It is the passageway through which blood from your lower body is returned to your heart. Blood clots that break loose from within a deep vein can travel through the vena cava toward your heart and lungs. If the clots block a coronary or pulmonary artery, they can cause heart attack or pulmonary embolism, respectively.

A vascular surgeon can position a vena cava filter in order to catch emboli (traveling clots) as they make their way toward your heart and lungs. The surgeon will insert the filter by using a catheter, and threading it to an optimal site within the inferior vena cava. The filter is shaped liked an umbrella and functions like a metallic net. It catches clots and prevents them from causing life-threatening arterial blockages.

In the past, such devices were permanent. Today, retrievable filters can be used as a temporary solution while other forms of treatment are administered. However, there is a risk of injury during retrieval if cells of the vena cava wall have overgrown the filter.

Other Forms Of Treatment For Yaz DVT

As noted, doctors prefer to treat a Yaz blood clot with anticoagulant therapy (i.e. heparin and warfarin) before exploring other solutions. That said, if blood clots are large, or they pose serious health risks, thrombolytic medications may be used to dissolve them. Because such medications pose a risk of severe bleeding, doctors will typically reserve their use for situations in which pulmonary embolism is a significant threat.

In rare cases where a dangerous DVT is unresponsive to non-surgical therapy, surgeons will recommend venous thrombectomy. This is a procedure during which the offending clot is removed from the deep vein. It is only used when there is a risk of tissue death and gangrene.

It’s important to underscore the risk of blood clots when taking Yaz birth control pills. Many women who have never experienced clotting in the past have developed clots after taking this oral contraceptive. If you have suffered abnormal clotting, DVT, pulmonary embolism, or other dangerous Yasmin side effects, you may have the legal right to file a Yaz lawsuit. Contact a Yaz attorney to discuss your case.

Normal Clotting Versus Yaz Blood Clots

It’s important to emphasize that clotting is a natural healing function of your body. If a blood vessel becomes damaged, platelets within your bloodstream will activate a sequence of events that leads to the construction of a protein-based mesh. This mesh forms a clot and repairs the damage. The problem is, Yasmin blood clots can also form when there is no damage within a vein or artery. This is often the case with deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a clot that develops within a deep vein of the leg, arm, or pelvis.

The Danger Of Deep Vein Thrombosis

Though DVT affects your circulation, it is a relatively benign condition as long as the thrombus remains attached to the wall of the deep vein. You might notice swelling and feel mild pain and warmth within the area, but the clot is not considered dangerous. Deep vein thrombosis can become life-threatening if the clot breaks away from the wall and travels downstream with the flow of blood.

Traditionally, treatment of Yaz DVT has sought to prevent pulmonary embolism. This condition occurs when a wandering blood clot (called an embolus) lodges within a pulmonary artery that supplies blood to one of your lungs. The lung tissue will begin to die, causing chest pain and other complications. Deep vein thrombosis is one of the leading causes of pulmonary embolism. This is one of the commonly reported Yaz birth control side effects.

The embolus from a DVT can also travel to a coronary artery. If that happens, it can lodge within it and form a blockage, preventing blood and oxygen from reaching your heart. That will trigger a heart attack.

How A Heart Attack Occurs

Within hours of your heart being starved of blood and oxygen, you may start to feel pain in your chest, back, and jaw. You might also have trouble catching your breath. This is because your heart’s ability to pump a sufficient supply of blood to the rest of your body has been impacted. If the blood clot is not removed from the coronary artery, the portion of your heart muscle that relies upon it will begin to die. If a large portion of the muscle dies, it will lead to lifelong side effects.

The dangerous series of events described above can be triggered by these birth control pills. Any oral contraceptive containing estrogen increases the risk of blood clots by four times when compared to non-use. However, the risk of clotting is even higher when taking Yaz. This contraceptive combines estrogen with a synthetic progestin called drospirenone. Recent studies have revealed that the combination of estrogen and drospirenone carries a risk of blood clots 6.3 times higher when compared to non-use.

A Yaz blood clot can lead to deep vein thrombosis. DVT can lead to an embolus that causes pulmonary embolism, stroke, or heart attack. If you have experienced blood clots after taking Yasmin birth control pills, you may have legal rights. Contact one of our Yaz attorneys to discuss your options including filing a Yaz lawsuit.

Some people believe the increased risk is due to Yaz containing a progestin called drospirenone. This is a synthetic hormone that is relatively new. Drospirenone has been the focal point of a growing tide of criticism because of several potentially life-threatening side effects it is thought to cause.

The Dangers Of Increased Potassium Levels

The progestin drospirenone contained in Yaz birth control has antimineralocorticoid qualities that resemble natural progesterone. In some women, this helps to increase the level of sodium excretion as well as regulate electrolyte levels. In other women, drospirenone can trigger a marked rise in potassium levels.

When your blood contains too much potassium, you run the risk of developing hyperkalemia. This is a condition that can influence the function of your heart. It can cause an irregular heartbeat, a weak pulse, and even cardiac arrest, which is potentially fatal. It can also cause nausea and a loss of nerve and muscle control. The likelihood of developing these side effects is sufficient enough that the official Yaz website warns women of the dangers.

There is an even greater risk of elevated potassium levels if you take Yaz oral contraceptives with other drugs that contain potassium or potassium-sparing diuretics.

Can Hyperkalemia Lead To Blood Clots?

All birth control solutions that include estrogen carry an increased risk of blood clots. Combination-hormone contraceptives that contain drospirenone (i.e. Yaz, Yasmin, and the generic version, Ocella) further increase the risk. There is also concern that hyperkalemia can exacerbate the risk of blood clots. Because hyperkalemia disturbs the heart’s rhythm, there is a possibility that blood can accumulate within the atrium. That can lead to clotting within the heart, exposing women to a potential heart attack.

It is worth noting that while the labeling on Yaz, Yasmin, and Ocella products highlights the risk of hyperkalemia, it does not underscore its connection to clotting.

Yasmin And Yaz Side Effects

An elevated level of potassium within your bloodstream, while dangerous, is merely one of many possible side effects of using Yaz birth control. Blood clots, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, stroke, and gallbladder disease are also possible. Many women who have shown no signs of health problems in the past have suddenly experienced life-changing side effects after taking Yaz. Plus, the risk of developing these conditions can rise sharply for women who are over 35, habitual smokers, or cope with high cholesterol levels.

There is no evidence that Yaz birth control pills are superior to other oral contraceptives that lack the progestin drospirenone. If you are currently using Yaz, speak with your doctor about alternatives. If you have already suffered the dangerous side effects mentioned above, consider contacting one of our Yaz lawyers.