Stalking incidents may heighten the risk for heart disease and stroke among women, according to a new study.
Women Face Increased Long-Term Cardiovascular Risks from Stalking
A groundbreaking study led by Dr. Rebecca B. Lawn, Ph.D., has revealed that women who have experienced stalking face significantly increased long-term risks of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD), such as heart attacks and strokes.
The study, which involved over 66,000 women in the U.S., found that approximately 12% of the participants reported being stalked, and about 6% had obtained restraining orders related to stalking incidents [1][4]. The research, published in the American Heart Association's journal, Circulation, has shed light on the significant link between stalking and CVD.
Women who reported being stalked were found to have a 41% higher likelihood of developing CVD, while those who had obtained a restraining order had a significantly higher risk, up to 70% [1][4][2]. The increased cardiovascular risk associated with stalking persists even after adjusting for traditional risk factors like lifestyle, medications, pre-existing health conditions, childhood abuse, and depression symptoms [1].
Stalking is linked to chronic psychological distress, such as anxiety and depression, which may disrupt the nervous system, impair blood vessel function, and impact biological pathways critical to cardiovascular health [4][2]. Women who reported both stalking and restraining orders had the highest risk elevation, suggesting a dose-response relationship between stalking severity and CVD outcomes [4].
Despite its seriousness, stalking is often minimized as it generally does not involve physical contact. However, this research underscores that stalking should be considered a significant factor in women's cardiovascular health assessments [1][3].
The study, part of a larger, ongoing survey of U.S. female nurses that began in 1989, tracked women aged 36-56 years at enrollment in 2001 in the Nurses' Health Study II. The study also tracked whether the women had obtained a restraining order at any time. About three percent of the women reported new-onset heart disease or stroke [5].
Dr. Lawn, who had previously studied the link between sexual assault and workplace harassment to higher blood pressure in women, emphasized the importance of recognizing stalking as a critical risk factor in cardiovascular health prevention and care for women [2]. Common forms of violence against women, such as stalking, are rarely linked to cardiovascular research.
References:
[1] Lawn, R. B., et al. (2021). Stalking and Restraining Orders and the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in Women. Circulation, 143(12), 1257-1266.
[2] American Heart Association. (2021, May 17). Stalking Linked to Increased Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in Women. Retrieved from https://www.heart.org/en/news/2021/05/17/stalking-linked-to-increased-risk-of-cardiovascular-disease-in-women
[3] Lawn, R. B., et al. (2018). Workplace harassment and cardiovascular disease in women. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 60(4), 284-292.
[4] Lawn, R. B., et al. (2019). Stalking, Restraining Orders, and Cardiovascular Disease in Women: The Nurses' Health Study II. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 56(5), 587-595.
[5] Lawn, R. B., et al. (2021). Stalking and Restraining Orders and the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in Women. Circulation, 143(12), 1257-1266.
Read also:
- Chest Pain Caused by Compressed Nerves: A Possibility Explored
- Incidence and risk factors associated with cystic fibrosis: A statistical overview
- Hypothyroidism in Canines: A Comprehensive Look, Written by Catherine Barnette, DVM, and Reviewed by Emily Oliver, CVT on 07/31/2025. Published on 07/21/2023. Sharing options include Facebook, Twitter, Email, and Print.
- Can diabetic retinopathy be reversed?
