A recent study indicates that women who were sexually abused as a child have a higher thickening of the inner lining of their arteries, which is an early sign of atherosclerosis. This is a condition in which arteries thicken and harden causing the accumulation of plaque which can cause a heart attack, heart failure and peripheral artery disease.
Childhood_Sexual_Abuse_and_Heart_Disease
The research was led by Recce C.Thurston who is an associate professor of psychiatry, psychology, epidemiology and clinical and translational science and director of the Women’s Behavioral and Health Laboratory at the University of Pittsburgh, PA. This is the first study to link sexual abuse with thickening of the inner lining of the arteries.
The study involved 1400 Caucasian, African-American, Hispanic and Chinese women ages 42-52 who were a part of the Study of Women’s Health across the Nation. All women were investigated regarding any physical or sexual abuse that they may have experienced and then were measured and tested for risk factors. The study found a positive correlation between sexual abuse and higher midlife carotid artery. This study indicates the importance of early life stressors and the effects it may have on life and also shows how devastating sexual abuse is to the mind and body considering physical abuse was not linked with higher midlife carotid artery IMT. It also indicates that care takers and medical professionals should inquire about such instances before determining risks of cardiovascular diseases.
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