Child Abuse Might Have A Substantial Link To High Blood Pressure

Millions of Americans refill hypertension medications every month. There's a great deal of evidence that suggests there could be a correlation between adult high blood pressure and childhood physical abuse.

Nearly half of all American adults are on blood pressure medication, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Many are able to manage their blood pressure through one or more medications and report consistent readings of near 120/80 for men and 110/70 for women, which are the modern preferred ranges. My doctor once told me that when he started in medicine the acceptable range for an adult male was 140/90.

 We do know that mental health is directly linked to the heart, so perhaps finding a way to better cope with childhood trauma may give your heart a few more healthy years.

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Diet, stress, and an inactive lifestyle are contributors to high blood pressure, and so is the brain. Childhood trauma such as physical abuse at the hand of a parent or stepparent can also contribute to a more forcefully beating heart later in life, according to the National Library of Medicine.

While my childhood wasn't horrific by any means, my brother and I both experienced physical abuse by a stepparent for about four to five straight years before our mom divorced, only to remarry the same man when we were in our thirties. Horseplay, not finishing dinner, and talking back resulted in the option of a belt or coat hanger.

Both my brother and I have been on BP meds for over 10 years. My brother just entered rehab for the fourth time in seven years, while I got lucky and never really developed an addiction to alcohol.

Does all of this link to the experiences we had as five and 10-year-old boys? I don't have the answer to that question. We do know that mental health is directly linked to the heart, so perhaps finding a way to better cope with childhood trauma may give your heart a few more healthy years.

If you find a coping solution that works, be sure to pass it on to others. You could save hearts that way.