“From Emotional Trauma to Physical Illness: Stalking’s Link to Heart Disease”

Stalking is often seen as a crime of fear—a mental assault that leaves emotional pockmarks. But new research highlights that the damage doesn’t stop in the mind. For many women, the stress of being stalked can silently strain the heart, raising the risk of heart disease, stroke, and other heart related problems.

The Hidden Toll of Fear
Living under constant scrutiny or harassment keeps the body’s stress response in overdrive. Stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline increase repeatedly, fuelling:
✅ Increase blood pressure
✅ Elevate inflammation
✅ Disturbed sleep and recovery cycles
✅ Uneven heart rhythms

Lately, this chronic mental strain can pave the way for atherosclerosis, heart attacks, and strokes.

When Safety Threats Become Health Threats
The psychological and mental pain of stalking often pushes victims into hyper-vigilance—checking locks, avoiding certain ways, and worrying unpredicted encounters. This consistent anxiety can imitate the body’s reaction to a life-threatening emergency, except it’s going on.
The outcome? The heart and blood vessels are continuously working under compulsion, wearing them down faster.

Why This Matters for Women’s Health
Research shows that women who have been stalked are more likely to develop heart related issues compared to those without such trauma. Yet, stalking is often disbanded as “just harassment” rather than a serious public health concern.

By understanding the mind–heart connection, healthcare providers can:
🔹 Screen stalking survivors for cardiovascular risk factors early
🔹 Provide mental health support alongside heart health monitoring
🔹 Support for stronger protection and prevention policies.

Protecting Both Heart and Mind
Managing stalking is not only about ensuring security—it’s about protecting lives. Support networks, legal action, counselling, and timely medical care can help victims heal both emotionally and physically.

Final words: Fear leaves marks on the heart. Recognizing stalking as both a mental and physical health threat could be a lifesaving shift in how we safeguard and care for women.