relative risk of myocardial infarction (smoking, COC)
Last reviewed 01/2018
Cigarette smoking increases the risk of myocardial infarction and stroke in women under 45 years old; the increase will be greater if the woman is also taking the combined oral contraceptive pill (COC)
- the relative risk is increased by 10 or greater compared with non-smokers
- relative risk in heavy smokers using COCs may be as great as 20
Reference:
- Factfile (1996). British Heart Foundation, 11/96.
smoking and combined oral contraceptive (COC) pill as a risk for cardiovascular disease