Over 35 too old for Birth Control?

According to certain researchers(and this ), taking birth control over the age of 35 puts you at many health risks. "Heart disease death rates have recently risen in women ages 35 to 44, and no one knows exactly why. This could be due to an increase in obesity, sedentary lifestyle, and smoking, all of which raise heart disease risk. But it could also be because more middle-aged women are using hormonal contraceptives today than ever before." (http://health.usnews.com/blogs/on-women/2009/01/13/should-you-stop-taking-birth-control-pills-if-youre-over-35.html)
There are a number of risks that increase your risk of health problems. They include:

• Smoking: Never, ever take the pill if you smoke—especially if you're over 35. You'll up your odds of blood clots, heart attacks, and strokes, especially if you smoke more than 15 cigarettes a day. Of course, quitting cigarettes will do your heart far more good than avoiding the pill will.

• Obesity: A few extra pounds probably isn't risky, but obese women—defined as having a body mass index over 30—have nearly twice the risk of developing dangerous blood clots if they take the pill compared with women at a healthy body weight.

• High blood pressure: If you have a history of high blood pressure, even if it's well controlled, it's probably best to avoid the pill because it can have a blood-pressure-raising effect. Women under 35 whose hypertension is controlled with medication can safely try oral contraceptives if their blood pressure is monitored, says the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

• Diabetes: The jury's still out as to whether oral contraceptives adversely affect a diabetic's blood sugar levels, but to be on the safe side, ACOG recommends that women over 35 with diabetes avoid the pill.

• High cholesterol: Women whose LDL cholesterol is over 160 mg/dL should avoid using the pill. Ditto for those with a family history of premature heart disease or those with an HDL level less than 35 mg/dL or a triglyceride level greater than 250 mg/dL.

• Migraines: Here's a surprise, at least to me. ACOG recommends against using the pill if you get migraines because some studies have shown that the combination increases a woman's risk of having a stroke by two to three times. I'm going to check with my doctor on this one since I occasionally get migraines—though I used to have far more of them before I went on the pill.

For women who do not smoke or have any of these health problems, the pill can be taken safely into a womans 50s. Birth control can also help with premenstrual symptoms such as hot flashes.