That staggering statistic is not only horrifying, but it may also contain clues to Americas heart disease epidemic.
In-person and electronic stalking are included in that definition.
The CARDIA studys goal is to identify heart disease risk factors that manifest in young adulthood.
Childhood experiences of domestic violence or abuse were not included in the data.
No amount of violence is okay.
A dose-response relationship was found between intimate partner violence and poor cardiovascular health.
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Study participants self-reported higher-than-average alcohol and cigarette use, as well as high rates of depression.
Drinking and smoking are hardly heart-healthy but dont tell the whole story.
Lifestyle factors like drinking and smoking were accounted for in the study analysis.
Ah yes,inflammationandstress.
The pesky duo can contribute to everything from acne breakouts to chronic diseases.
Its Amazing How Its All Connected.
Prolonged, sustained stress increases the production of cortisol, the fight-or-flight stress hormone.
When cortisol levels are high, inflammation increases, the heart beats faster, and blood pressure rises.
Over time, cortisol secretion and inflammation become the bodys standard response tochronic stress.
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Heart attacks, heart disease, and stroke may all follow.
How to reduce your risk of intimate partner violence
First things first.
Experts say that violent episodes are rarely one-and-done unless an intervention occurs.
Violence can also escalate in scale over time.
There can be a grooming aspect to violence thats coming.
This can include isolating you from others, or controlling what you might and cant do.
Dr. Eckstein often works with people in abusive relationships who arent ready to leave.
Children, finances, and psychological readiness can all play a role.
So can fears about not being believed.
This can be part of your safety plan, she says.
Creating a safety plan to use if you oughta can be crucial.
Your plan can include medical providers or spiritual leaders in your community of faith.
Your safety plan can include calling an abuse hotline or dialing 911.
It doesnt have to be a friend or a family member.
It just has to be someone you might trust, adds Dr. Eckstein.
Resiliency can be shaped in large part by your environment and opportunities.
It can be harder to leave an abusive relationship if youre living in challenging circumstances or poverty.
If we dont treat people and communities holistically, were missing risk factors that can damage cardiovascular health.
We cant just treat blood pressure and lipid levels.
We also have to think about helping people reduce stressors, like intimate partner violence.
Its important that people have good blood pressure and if they dont, we must treat it.
For some people, working with a therapist will be essential.
The role of therapy was not addressed in the sub-study on intimate partner violence.
No matter how you choose to address your past, remember that risk factors are not fate.
You cant change what happened or wish it away.
you’re free to, however, control your current choices.
Eatingheart-healthy foodand moving your body is, of course, highly beneficial.
So often, parents will mention having concerns about their child that they didnt act upon.
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