One of the most frightening aspects of the closures and home isolations during the Corona period was the significant increase in reports of violence and abuse within the family, a reality with devastating consequences.
According to Dr. Dana Safet, director of the Center for Women's Heart Health at the Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center in Jerusalem, to the horrors of violence to which they are exposed in childhood and adulthood is added trauma, which may lead to an increase in the incidence of cardiovascular diseases later in life.
"Many studies point to serious consequences caused by negative experiences in childhood, such as violence and abuse of all kinds, such as sexual, psychological or physical violence," she said, adding that among the consequences can be counted an increase in the risk of heart disease, stroke and premature death, especially among victims of violence Sexually you can also find an increase in the risk of diabetes and obesity.
Unequivocal data
According to a study by Safed, women and men who experienced sexual abuse in their childhood face a 40% increased risk of heart disease.
Those who have undergone emotional abuse are at a 50% risk of such diseases, and those who have undergone continuous physical violence are at a 70% risk.
"The research on violence against children and its long-term effect has been studied extensively, but the information regarding the adult population is less extensive," added Dr. Tsafet. , stroke, obesity and chronic pain".
An increase of tens of percent, photo: Getty Images
Another study published in England compared 18,000 women who reported sexual abuse throughout their lives, compared to 70,000 women who did not have to deal with such abuse.
The data were unequivocal: in a follow-up that lasted only two years, it appeared that the victims of abuse had a 40% increased risk of experiencing a heart attack, a 29% increased risk of having a stroke, and a 30% increased risk of mortality.
The analysis of the results in patients who reported abuse found that 60% of the increase in the risk of chronic diseases can be explained by smoking, obesity, diabetes and hypertension.
However, these risk factors alone cannot explain the significant increase in risk levels.
It is known that a chronic increase in the levels of hormones released during stress, such as that of victims of abuse, has a negative effect on the health of the arteries.
Also, an increase in inflammation indices, which can also be seen in those victims, can worsen atherosclerosis in the heart and brain, which will automatically increase the risk levels of stroke and cardiac events.
"Early identification of women who have been and are being abused is critical," concludes Dr. Safet. "Sometimes we can stop the abuse in its beginning or end it, but treatment after the abuse is equally significant.
By identifying these women early, it will be possible to help them deal with their risk factors for developing heart disease, and thus we may be able to reduce their future risk.
Increased awareness can help us provide the right care to women who especially need it."
Dr. Tsafet will present the research today (Sunday) at a conference led by the Coalition of Women's Health Organizations in Israel, which will be held at the Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center in the presence of MK Idit Silman, chairman of the Knesset Health Committee.
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