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Ortho Evra Birth Control Patch and Heart Attack

Women who use the Ortho Evra birth control patch are exposed to about 60 percent more total estrogen in their blood than if they were taking a typical birth control pill.  This increase in estrogen can lead to a blood clot, which can lead to a heart attack. As a public service, the lawyers at Pritzker | Ruohonen & Associates are providing the following information for women on heart attack symptoms.  We have also provided information on Ortho Evra and Strokes.

If you use or have used the Ortho Evra birth control patch and have had a heart attack, a lawyer at Pritzker | Ruohonen is available for a free consultation.  Our lawyers have years of experience and a record of success with product liability lawsuits, including a recent settlement for $3,750,000.   Johnson & Johnson has already settled several Ortho Evra lawsuits, contact us to help you with your Ortho Evra case.  You can reach us toll-free at 1-888-377-8900, by e-mail at info@pritzkerlaw.com, or by filling out our online consultation form.

Ortho Evra – Heart Attack Symptoms
If you use Ortho Evra, you should know the symptoms of heart attack.  Be aware that heart attack symptoms in women are usually different than in men.

• Chest pain: Although chest pain is the symptom most commonly associated with heart attack, many women having a heart attack do not experience chest pain.  If there is chest pain, it often is in the center of the chest and lasts for more than a few minutes. It often radiates from the chest to the arms, shoulder, neck, teeth, jaw, abdomen, or back. It can feel like:
  • squeezing or heavy pressure
  • a tight band on the chest
  • "an elephant sitting on [your] chest"
  • bad indigestion
    For women, the pain may be quite mild. If you are using Ortho Evra, you are at higher risk for heart attack and should seek immediate medical attention even if there is mild chest pain.
    
• Pain or discomfort in other areas of the upper body: As discussed above, chest pain can radiate from the chest to the arms, shoulder, neck, teeth, jaw, abdomen, or back. It is also possible for there to be pain in one of these areas without accompanying chest pain. The most common areas for pain and discomfort for women are the chest, back, neck and jaw.
  
• Shortness of breath: Shortness of breath may occur at the same time as chest pain, or it may occur before it. Women have shortness of breath more than men.
  
• Breaking into a cold sweat: Men sweat when they are experiencing a heart attack more often than women.
  
• Pain in one or both arms: Pain radiating down the left arm is a well-known symptom of heart attack; however, pain in either arm can be a symptom of heart attack.
  
• Nausea: The nausea can lead to vomiting.
  
• Indigestion: It can be hard to tell between bad indigestion and a heart attack. It is best to get immediate medical attention.
  Fatigue: Usually when fatigue is a symptom, the fatigue is severe.
  
• Dizziness: The severity of this symptom can vary from feeling very dizzy to just feeling lightheaded.

Women are more likely to experience nausea, vomiting, or indigestion as heart attack symptoms. Remember, you are at higher risk for heart attack if you are using Ortho Evra. Mild symptoms should not be disregarded.

Sources:
The National Women’s health Information Center, a service of the U.S. Departement of Health and Human Services
http://www.womenshealth.gov/heart/
HeartHealthyWomen
http://www.hearthealthywomen.org/
Medline Plus: a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001124.htm

Pritzker | Ruohonen & Associates, P.A.
Plaza VII, Suite 2950
45 South Seventh Street
Minneapolis, MN 55402-1652

Telephone: 612-338-0202
Toll-Free: 1-888-377-8900
Fax: 612-338-0104
Email:info@pritzkerlaw.com