Impact of Childhood Stress on Heart Disease

Many causes of heart disease are outside of our control, and new research shows that children who experience trauma, abuse, neglect, or family dysfunction are more likely to experience heart disease as adults.

Results from the study showed people exposed to the highest levels of childhood family environment adversity were more than 50 percent more likely to have a cardiovascular disease event such as a heart attack or stroke over a 30-year follow-up.

SOURCE: Northwestern University • AUTHOR: Kristin Samuelson • LAST UPDATED: April 28, 2020