Sexual Assault, Harassment Linked to Women’s High Blood Pressure

Experiencing sexual assault or office sexual harassment will increase the danger of hypertension in girls, a brand new research suggests. 

The research, printed Tuesday within the Journal of the American Coronary heart Affiliation, checked out information from the Nurses’ Well being Research II, an ongoing cohort research which began enrolling girls in 1989. Over seven years, girls who skilled sexual assault and office sexual harassment have been 21% extra prone to develop hypertension than those that did not expertise both, researchers discovered. 

Those that have been sexually harassed at work have been 15% extra prone to have hypertension, whereas those that have been sexually assaulted have been 11% extra prone to develop hypertension, the research discovered. 

Twenty-three % of girls within the research have been sexually assaulted, 12% have been sexually harassed at work and 6% skilled each. In line with the US Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention, one in three girls has skilled sexual violence involving bodily touching, whereas one in 4 males have had comparable experiences. 

People who find themselves homosexual, lesbian and bisexual could be at greater threat of sexual assault, in addition to different populations, together with adults with developmental disabilities. 

A limitation of the hypertension research was that it checked out information from girls who share the identical occupation (nursing), the vast majority of whom have been white. Notably, nevertheless, the research accounted for different kinds of trauma exterior sexual assault, strengthening the hyperlink between sexual trauma and hypertension. 

“This research highlights why it is vital for well being analysis to look at girls’s experiences of sexual assault and office sexual harassment,” Laura Rowland, a program chief within the Division of Translational Analysis on the Nationwide Institute of Psychological Well being, stated in an NIH information launch.

“Future analysis can construct on these findings to find out whether or not sexual violence and hypertension are causally linked and determine potential underlying mechanisms,” she stated.

The wellness toll of sexual assault 

Having hypertension will increase your threat of coronary heart illness and stroke — two main causes of demise within the US, in line with the CDC. However the latest research is not the one one to exhibit the impression of sexual assault on well being and wellness.

Each short- and long-term well being penalties have been related to sexual assault, together with issues with sleep and psychological well being points. 

Survivors of sexual assault might also be extra prone to expertise post-traumatic stress dysfunction, which itself has been linked to different well being issues, together with cognitive decline.

The data contained on this article is for academic and informational functions solely and isn’t meant as well being or medical recommendation. All the time seek the advice of a doctor or different certified well being supplier concerning any questions you’ll have a couple of medical situation or well being aims.