A recent study published in Circulation reveals that women who have experienced stalking or obtained restraining orders face a heightened risk of heart disease and stroke later in life.

This association between stalking and cardiovascular issues remains significant even after accounting for other risk factors such as lifestyle choices and mental health.

Professor Harmony Reynolds, who contributed to the study, emphasized the surprising nature of these findings and noted that feelings of unsafety can profoundly impact both mental and physical health.

Dr. Reynolds further highlighted the unexpected long-term effects of stalking on cardiovascular health, stressing the role of social support in alleviating stress.

The research analyzed data from over 66,000 women participating in the Nurses' Health Study II, tracking their health from 2001 to 2021.

However, the study's limitations include a lack of racial and socioeconomic diversity within the participant cohort, which may affect the generalizability of the findings.

The research acknowledges that the majority of participants were non-Hispanic white women, further limiting the applicability of the results to other demographic groups.

In light of these findings, the study advocates for enhanced training for healthcare professionals to recognize violence as a modifiable determinant of cardiovascular health and to increase public awareness about its effects.