A new and groundbreaking study from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health has identified a previously unrecognized and significant risk factor for heart disease in women: a history of being stalked. The research, published in Circulation, reveals that women who reported experiencing stalking were 41% more likely to develop cardiovascular diseases (CVD), including heart attacks and strokes, compared to women who had not been stalked.
This risk escalates dramatically to 70% for women who took the legal step of obtaining a restraining order. This finding carries profound public health implications, as stalking is a widespread form of interpersonal violence, with approximately one in three women experiencing it during their lifetime.
For decades, the focus has been on established physiological and lifestyle factors such as age, family history, smoking, diabetes, and high blood pressure. This new research introduces a critical psychosocial component, positioning chronic psychological distress from violence as a health hazard on par with traditional risk factors. It necessitates a re-evaluation of patient screening protocols to include a comprehensive assessment of a patient's history of violence and trauma.
Our findings indicate that, to better mitigate women’s risk of CVD, more attention needs to be paid to their experiences of violence.Karestan Koenen, Professor of Psychiatric Epidemiology
The study's finding of a "dose-response relationship" further strengthens its conclusions; the heightened risk observed in women who obtained a restraining order underscores the direct correlation between the severity and duration of the traumatic experience and the likelihood of a cardiovascular event. A restraining order typically indicates a more severe, prolonged, or legally formalized stalking experience.
A crucial aspect of the study's scientific rigor lies in its methodology. Researchers meticulously followed a large cohort of 66,270 women, aged 36 to 56, who were part of the Nurses' Health Study II. The study spanned two decades, from 2001 to 2021, providing a long-term view of health outcomes.
Stalking covers a broader profile of established risk factors, some controllable and others not. This comprehensive view is necessary for a complete understanding of women's cardiovascular health.
Traditional risk factors for heart disease in women include:
Uncontrollable Factors: Risk naturally increases with age, particularly after age 55 or after menopause, possibly due to hormonal changes. A family history of heart disease also raises the risk, especially if a male relative was diagnosed before age 55 or a female relative before age 65.
Controllable Factors: These include lifestyle choices and managed health conditions. An unhealthy diet, sedentary lifestyle, and smoking are primary culprits. Quitting smoking alone can reduce the risk of heart disease by 50% in just one year.
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