Otherwise healthy women may be in danger of suffering a heart attack due to the hormones used in this oral contraceptive. Concern over Yaz and blood clots centers on the types of hormones used in the pill. Yasmin is a fourth-generation birth control solution that combines estrogen with drospirenone, a relatively new synthetic progestin. Recent studies have shown that drospirenone increases the risk of blood clots within the deep veins. If the clots break loose, they can travel to your heart and block one of your coronary arteries. This is a precursor to heart attack, one of the potential Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella side effects.

While myocardial infarction poses an immediate danger (nearly 50% of victims die), it can be treated successfully if medical attention is administered quickly. However, survivors are usually burdened with one or more long-term complications for the remainder of their lives.

Arrhythmias

The four chambers of your heart contract and pump blood as the result of electrical impulses. These impulses are produced by the sinoatrial node, a group of cells in your right atrium. They follow a uniform pathway through your heart’s atria and ventricles, and regulate your heartbeat. If you suffer a Yasmin heart attack, the event can disrupt the path of these electrical signals. This causes an arrhythmia, a condition in which your heart beats too quickly, too slowly, or with an abnormal rhythm.

Reduced Ability To Pump Blood

If the Yasmin blood clots that block your coronary arteries are large, you might suffer a severe heart attack. In such cases, your heart muscle can sustain damage to the point that it becomes unable to sufficiently pump blood. This results in heart failure. If the muscle recovers, the problem may dissipate; otherwise, the damage may become permanent.

Subsequent Heart Attack

Suffering myocardial infarction weakens your heart and places you at risk of experiencing another attack. Nearly 10% of survivors will suffer a subsequent heart attack within a few months of the original event. Nearly 20% will experience recurrent post-infarction angina. Angina is chest pain that results when your heart does not receive an adequate supply of oxygenated blood.

Formation Of Additional Blood Clots

Though rare, a heart attack can damage the heart valves and cause blood to pool within the individual chambers. This can lead to the formation of blood clots in the chambers. Once formed, those clots can potentially escape through the left ventricle and block a coronary artery (triggering another attack) or travel toward your brain. If they reach a carotid artery, they can trigger ischemic stroke.

Pericarditis

Your heart is surrounded by a fibrous sac known as the pericardium. It is filled with fluid and helps contain your heart within your chest cavity while preventing it from over-expanding when blood volume rises. Myocardial infarction can cause inflammation of this sac, a condition known as pericarditis. The most common symptoms include fever, breathing difficulty, and joint pain.

Avoiding A Heart Attack

In addition to the complications described above, a Yasmin related heart attack can also be followed by hypotension, ventricular aneurysm, or a rupture in the heart’s wall. All are potentially dangerous. All can have serious long-term consequences.

If you have already experienced abnormal blood clots, deep vein thrombosis, heart attack, or other side effects of Yasmin Yaz or Ocella, you may have the right to file a claim. These events, while similar in nature, have a unique – and often lasting – impact on each victim. Contact a dedicated Yasmin blood clot attorney who will investigate your case and help determine whether you are due compensation for your injuries.