Black Politics Now
  • Home
  • Business
  • Civil Rights
  • Criminal Justice
  • Education
  • Elections
  • Health
  • Policy
  • Reparations
  • Voter Rights
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Register
Black Politics Now
  • Home
  • Business
  • Civil Rights
  • Criminal Justice
  • Education
  • Elections
  • Health
  • Policy
  • Reparations
  • Voter Rights
No Result
View All Result
Black Politics Now
No Result
View All Result

Childhood trauma in Black women increases incidence of cardiovascular disease, Emory study finds

Black Politics Now by Black Politics Now
March 4, 2025
in Study
0
close up photo of a stethoscope

(Photo courtesy of Pixabay)

74
SHARES
1.2k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

March 4, 2025 Story by: Editor

You might also like

Study shows algorithm may reduce racial and ethnic inequalities in multiple sclerosis treatment

Walking function worse in Black multiple sclerosis patients than white patients, study shows

Study reveals high maternity costs hit Black patients hardest

A new study from Emory University reveals that childhood trauma can lead to physical changes in the hearts of Black women.

The research, which analyzed the connection between childhood trauma and vascular dysfunction among over 400 Black adults in Atlanta aged 30 to 70, found that women who experienced childhood trauma exhibited poorer vascular function—a key preclinical marker of heart disease—while no such effect was observed in men. The findings suggest that women may be more susceptible to cumulative stress, leading to different physiological responses.

“Heart disease is still the number one killer of women,” says Telisa Spikes, RN, PhD, and lead author of the study, which was published in the Journal of the American Heart Association. “We have already heard that stress kills, but until recently, few studies have investigated stressors, especially socially derived, and how they impact cardiovascular outcomes. We are beginning to quantify what type of effect stress has — and we are seeing now that stress does get under the skin to have a detrimental impact on cardiovascular health, especially for Black women,” adds Spikes, a professor at Emory University’s Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing.

Conducted at the Morehouse-Emory Cardiovascular Center for Health Equity, the study found that childhood trauma in women can lead to arterial stiffness—reduced artery function in the cardiovascular system—raising the risk of major cardiac events such as heart attacks and strokes. It is also linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, and dysfunction in small blood vessels, which can damage brain or kidney tissues.

Many participants reported experiencing childhood trauma, defined as distressing events that threaten the bodily, familial, or social safety of an individual under 18. Researchers used a 27-item self-report questionnaire to assess trauma exposure in four categories: general trauma, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, and physical abuse.

Although men and women in the study reported similar levels of childhood trauma, only women exhibited the vascular dysfunction associated with it. Both groups shared similarities in education, income levels, and marital status, with nearly half earning less than $25,000 annually. Additionally, they had comparable rates of blood pressure, diabetes, hypertension, and other health markers. However, the presence of arterial stiffness exclusively among women indicates a gender-specific biological impact of trauma.

The study suggests that women may process stress differently due to variations in the type and chronicity of trauma they experience. For instance, “Evidence shows that girls are more likely to be exposed to sexual abuse, whereas boys are more likely to report physical abuse.” It also highlights that Black populations experience a higher prevalence of childhood maltreatment, compounded by adverse social stressors, which can increase the likelihood of unhealthy coping mechanisms.

“What was an interesting takeaway was that both the men and women in this group had a low cardiovascular risk burden, meaning that it was a healthy population,” says Spikes, noting a correlation between arterial stiffness and traumatic experiences. “This exposure to trauma had a more consequential effect on the cardiovascular health of Black women over Black men, and that was very eye-opening. This may explain why we are seeing such an increased burden of high blood pressure in Black women, and why it’s happening earlier in life compared to women from other racial-ethnic backgrounds.”

Spikes concludes that incorporating trauma-informed assessments into patient evaluations could help mitigate cardiovascular disease risk.

“It is widely known that women process and appraise stressors differently and are more impacted by that neurobiological process,” says Spikes. “Depression and cardiovascular disease are synergistic — they go hand-in-hand. Mental wellbeing has a profound impact on physical health outcomes, and adding a psychosocial questionnaire for the patients could be an important clinical screening tool for risk assessment.” Source: Emory News Center 

Tags: Black women heart diseaseEmory research heart diseaseHealth effects of childhood traumaTrauma and cardiovascular diseaseTrauma impact on heart
Share30Tweet19
Black Politics Now

Black Politics Now

Recommended For You

Study shows algorithm may reduce racial and ethnic inequalities in multiple sclerosis treatment

by Black Politics Now
March 13, 2025
0
Multiple Sclerosis Damaged Myelin

A simple algorithm designed to recommend highly effective disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) for multiple sclerosis (MS) patients can help ensure fairer treatment and reduce racial and ethnic disparities, according...

Read moreDetails

Walking function worse in Black multiple sclerosis patients than white patients, study shows

by Black Politics Now
March 13, 2025
0
Gettyimages 1216658919 Forweb 1536x1024

Black individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) tend to walk more slowly and cover less distance within a set time than their white counterparts, according to a U.S. study.

Read moreDetails

Study reveals high maternity costs hit Black patients hardest

by Black Politics Now
March 8, 2025
0
Image Source: Sarah Grillo/Axios

A recent study published in JAMA Health Forum reveals that Black and Hispanic individuals face higher out-of-pocket expenses for maternal care compared to their Asian and white counterparts,...

Read moreDetails

New genetic study reveals why eczema affects Black Americans differently

by Black Politics Now
March 6, 2025
0
Atopic Dermatitis In A Pizza Shop Worker.image From Matt Zirwas

Eczema, or atopic dermatitis, is the most prevalent skin condition globally, impacting over 200 million people. While researchers have long understood its causes, the reasons behind its higher...

Read moreDetails

Omitting race from lung function equations increases detection of asthma in Black children, study shows

by Black Politics Now
March 3, 2025
0
Image Source: Medpage Today

Despite advances in health care, structural racism and health disparities continue to influence medical practices—sometimes in ways health care providers may not even recognize. A recent study published...

Read moreDetails
Next Post
Adonis Ducksworth has declared his candidacy for Seattle City Council's District 2 seat in the upcoming November election. (Photo courtesy of Adonis Ducksworth's campaign)

Ducksworth, vying for Seattle City Council District 2 seat

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

ADVERTISEMENT

Related News

Image Source: Real Talk TV

Schools and colleges in England accused of failing in legal duty to tackle racism

December 1, 2024
Black voters seek Supreme Court review after Louisiana map blocked

Black voters seek Supreme Court review after Louisiana map blocked

February 13, 2025
Federal civil rights probe launched into Thomas Jefferson High’s admissions policy

Federal civil rights probe launched into Thomas Jefferson High’s admissions policy

May 27, 2025
Black Politics Now

Get informed on African American politics with "Black Politics Now," your ultimate source for political engagement.

CATEGORIES

  • Business
  • Civil Rights
  • Congressional Black Caucus
  • Criminal Justice
  • Data
  • Department of Justice
  • Diversity Initiatives
  • Education
  • Elections
  • Enviroment
  • Equity
  • Hate Crimes
  • Health
  • Housing
  • Investigations
  • Legal Defense Fund
  • NAACP
  • Policy
  • Real Estate
  • Reparations
  • Research
  • Sports
  • State Issues
  • Study
  • Supreme Court
  • Technology
  • Voter Rights
  • World

Quick Link

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of service
  • Contact us

Download Our App

© 2024 Black Politics Now | All Right Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Business
  • Civil Rights
  • Criminal Justice
  • Education
  • Elections
  • Health
  • Policy
  • Reparations
  • Voter Rights
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Cart
SUBSCRIBE

© 2024 Black Politics Now | All Right Reserved

Join the Movement, Subscribe Now!(Don't worry, we'll never spam you!)

Don’t miss a beat—get the latest news, inspiring stories, and in-depth coverage of the issues that matter most to the Black community. Be part of the conversation and stay connected.

Enter your email address