Could Experiencing Stalking Elevate Heart Disease and Stroke Risks in Women by Over 40%?

New Delhi, Aug 11 (NationPress) Women who have experienced stalking are over 40 percent more likely to suffer from heart disease and stroke, as revealed by a concerning study released on Monday.

According to data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 1 in 3 women face stalking at some point in their lives.

The findings, published in the American Heart Association’s leading journal Circulation, highlighted that prevalent forms of violence against women, including stalking or harassing behaviors like receiving unwelcome communications that evoke fear, are seldom addressed in cardiovascular research.

Researchers from Harvard University and the University of British Columbia explained, “The relationship between stalking and cardiovascular disease may stem from psychological trauma, which can disrupt the nervous system, hinder blood vessel functionality, and adversely impact various biological processes.”

Importantly, the study indicated that women who secured a restraining order for protection faced a staggering 70 percent higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

A restraining order serves as a legal document aimed at minimizing contact between a victim and their aggressor, often indicating severe violence.

The analysis, which encompassed data from more than 66,000 women with an average age of 46, scrutinized the interplay between stalking, restraining orders, and the incidence of heart disease or stroke from 2001 to 2021.

Overall, nearly 12 percent of the women surveyed reported being stalked, while around 6 percent indicated they had obtained a restraining order.

Approximately 3 percent of all participants experienced new-onset heart disease or stroke within the two decades of the study.

The heightened risks for heart attack and stroke linked to stalking and restraining orders persisted even after accounting for other self-reported cardiovascular risk factors, including health and lifestyle habits, medications, existing health issues, childhood abuse, and symptoms of depression.

“Stalking is often perceived as a form of violence lacking physical contact, which may trivialize its seriousness,” stated Rebecca B. Lawn, a research associate in epidemiology at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston.

However, it can be chronic and may lead to profound changes in women, she added.

Lawn emphasized the necessity for further research and training for healthcare professionals to grasp the connection between stalking or obtaining a restraining order and women’s cardiovascular health.

“We must also boost awareness regarding the potential health implications of experiencing violence and provide women with support and resources,” she said.