Women who have experienced stalking or obtained restraining orders face significantly higher risks of developing heart disease and stroke, according to research published in the American Heart Association's flagship journal Circulation. The study followed over 66,000 women for two decades, finding those who reported being stalked were 41% more likely to develop cardiovascular disease, while those who had obtained restraining orders were 70% more likely. These findings underscore how psychological distress from violence may disrupt biological systems, with stalking's chronic stress potentially impairing blood vessel function and affecting other mechanisms.
The research emphasizes that violence against women is not widely recognized as a cardiovascular risk factor by healthcare professionals, despite its prevalence. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about one in three women experience stalking in their lifetime. Lead author Rebecca B. Lawn, Ph.D., stressed the importance of looking beyond traditional risk factors to understand violence's impact on women's heart health. The study suggests the chronic fear associated with stalking can have long-term consequences, including increased risks of heart attack and stroke.
Harmony R. Reynolds, M.D., FAHA, noted the study's significance in demonstrating how feeling unsafe affects both mind and body, with social support potentially mitigating some stress effects. The research calls for increased awareness, healthcare training, and resources to address violence's health impacts. Limitations include the study's focus on a predominantly non-Hispanic white female population, which may not reflect more diverse groups' experiences, and reliance on self-reported data that could affect accuracy. Nevertheless, the findings highlight an urgent need to integrate violence assessment into cardiovascular risk evaluation.
