Study shows newer birth-control pills less likely to cause heart disease

NEW YORK Women taking newer birth-control pills may have lower risk of heart disease than those taking the older ones, according to a study.

The study, published in the Jan. 20 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, found that the new formulations of hormonal contraceptives apparently don't increase blood pressure as much as the old ones.

 The researchers said, however, that more research must be done on the newer pills because of increases in obesity, the numbers of women taking the pills and the age at which they take them.

More than 11 million women use hormonal contraceptives.