system
Medical AI Inquiry: You were designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.
user
A 28-year-old woman presents to a physician with complaints of fever, cough, and cold for the last 2 days. She does not have any other symptoms and she has no significant medical history. She has recently started using combined oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) for birth control. On physical examination, the temperature is 38.3°C (101.0°F), the pulse is 98/min, the blood pressure is 122/80 mm Hg, and the respiratory rate is 14/min. The nasal mucosa and pharynx are inflamed, but there is no purulent discharge. Auscultation of the chest does not reveal any abnormalities. She mentions that she has been a heavy smoker for the last 5 years, smoking about 15–20 cigarettes per day. The physician suggests she should discontinue using combined OCPs and choose an alternative contraception method. Which of the following best explains the rationale behind the physician's suggestion?
assistant
Smoking is likely to increase the risk of developing deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in women taking OCPs