Daily HealthBeat Tip - April 30, 2008

That’s not love

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Abusive relationships cause pain in the short term, and research finds its effects can be felt long after the relationships have ended.

Victims of violent relationships not only suffer from fear and stress, but the study found they also are more prone to chronic diseases.

These conditions include stroke, heavy drinking, smoking, and behaviors that put them at risk for infection with HIV.

At the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, researcher Michele Black stresses:

“In addition to preventing abuse before it happens, preventing further harm from those who’ve already experienced abuse or observed it, as children often do, is also important.”  (10 seconds)

Victims can receive help by calling the national hotline at 800-799-SAFE, or 7233.  All calls are free and confidential.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: April, 29 2008