Health Needs of Survivors of Domestic Violence
Domestic violence is not over when the victim is safe and out of harm's way. It's not
over until justice has been served. Even then, it's not over. It's not over until the
victim is safe, justice has been served, and the victim is well. Consider these facts:
- Abuse, especially repetitive abuse, leaves a lasting "impression" on the
health, well-being, and post-abuse functioning of the victim. This impact lingers
long after the bruises fade, the bones mend, and the abuse is over.
- Victims of violence seek healthcare more often than non-victims. The
severity of victimization is a powerful predictor of the healthcare costs generated by
these victims.
- Most healthcare visits by victims of domestic violence are not domestic
violence patients presenting with injuries, but rather medical problems that
seemingly are not related to current or past injuries.
The health effects of violence can reach across the life span. Studies have now
shown that adults who were abused in childhood vs. those who were not have more:
- Infectious diseases
- Mental health disorders
- Hypertension
- Diabetes
- Dermatitis
- Asthma
- Allergy
- Acne
- Abnormal menstrual bleeding
- More heath-threatening behaviors such as smoking, the use of alcohol,
driving while intoxicated, avoiding regular gynecological examinations, not wearing
seat belts, sedentary lifestyle, and high-risk sexual encounters.
The abuse sustained in an intimate partner relationship does not have to be physical
to cause poor health. Intimate partner violence and abuse (IPVA) can take several
forms: physical abuse, verbal abuse, and forced sex. When Dr. Ann Coker and her
colleagues looked at domestic violence in a large series
of patients, they found that approximately 14% of domestic violence victims have
only been victimized psychologically, not physically. These victims had higher rates
of numerous medical problems that the non-abused do not have. Among them:
- Disability that prevented working
- Arthritis
- Chronic pain
- Migraine and other frequent headaches
- Stammering
- Sexually transmitted infections
- Chronic pelvic pain
- Stomach ulcers
- Frequent indigestion, diarrhea, or constipation.
These findings pose an interesting question: Do victims of psychological abuse have
fewer or more health problems than victims of physical violence? Dr. Coker and her
colleagues found that "psychological IPV was as strongly associated with the
majority of adverse health outcomes as was physical IPV." The old childhood taunt
of "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me," is wrong,
wrong, wrong. And now we have research to support the idea that it's wrong.Survivors of domestic violence or IPVA will tell you that life after abuse is never the
same. Some experience insomnia, multiple aches and pains, problems with
concentration, intrusive thoughts, fatigue, and irritability. Any one of these can
interfere with effective functioning and set the stage for depression and even
despair. Violence and abuse of all forms is complex and the resulting health effects are
interwoven. No single approach cures all. Medical help for domestic violence victims
and survivors exists but is scattered. Appropriate care is often difficult to find and
access, but it can be done. Healthcare providers and survivors must learn to work
together to secure the best state of health possible for survivors of domestic
violence. My recent book on using expressive writing to help resolve lingering health issues
offers one way to give aid to survivors and their supporters. You can read a
summary about the book at website http://healthaftertrauma/ © Copyright Ellen Taliaferro, MD 2005. All rights reserved. . You have permission to
publish part or all of this article electronically or in print, in your newsletter, on your
website, or in your e-book, as long you maintain the hyperlinks in the article and
include the following information: "Written by Ellen Taliaferro, MD, author, speaker,
and expert witness. Dr T. can be contacted through http://www.healthaftertrauma.com. A copy of your reprint or publication would be
appreciated.
Related News
|
 |
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Prescription Drugs from International Pharmacies Save Elderly Money
As pointed out by *Jack Shapiro, an internationally-known healthcare marketing consultant "For the first nine months of this year, the U.S. imported $40 billion in pharmaceuticals and exported only $21 billion. In 2003, we imported $50 billion and exported $23 billion." So what makes buying from your local U.S. based pharmacy any safer then purchasing from Mexico or Canada?
Warning! Flu Shots Can Be Dangerous To Your Health
Every year about this time doctors around the world are recommending that people go in and get their annual flu shot. What most people don't know or understand is just how dangerous this could be, especially for children under the age of 12. When people call and say "My doctor is telling the family to go in and get a flu shot. Should I do it?"?I tell them they should learn about the side effects and decide for themselves?as a chiropractor and naturopathic physician I don't' have the time or energy to argue with family practitioners or family doctors who are obviously uneducated on the possible side effects or detrimental effects flu shots or vaccinations in general can have on the body.
Blood Pressure Treatment: High and Low Blood Pressure Tips and Medication!
High blood pressure is on the rise worldwide. But, doctors believe that small lifestyle changes can go a long way in preventing this silent killer.
Amazing Shoulder Pain Reversing Secrets!
Whether you're a weekend athlete, or a gardener that overdid it, or a person with arthritis, there's hope for you. According to Dr. Nathan Wei, Clinical Director of the Arthritis and Osteoporosis Center of Maryland, "Shoulder problems are one of the most common afflictions of modern times. Fortunately, there are many ways of helping people feel better."
4 Reasons Why You Should Use Canadian Pharmacies
Let's face it: purchasing prescription drugs in the U.S. can be a costly undertaking. By filling your prescriptions online through Canadian pharmacies, your savings can be substantial. Here's why you should consider having your drugs shipped to your home from Canada:
Cetyl Myristoleate Seperating Fact From Fiction
I am a strong believer in Cetyl Myristoleate for the treatment of arthritis. For the last three years I have been researching and writing about Cetyl Myristoleate. I am constantly searching for new research and contact and interview every doctor I can find that works with it. The purpose of the article is to evaluate the claims made about Cetyl Myristoleate on the myriad of web sites that sell it. It you want more information on the research that documents the effectiveness of Cetyl Myristoleate then do a search for my article, "Cetyl Myristoleate: Science or Speculation".
NIH Official Altered Drug Study
NIH Official Altered Drug Study
?Winning the War Against Rheumatoid Arthritis?
RA is a condition that forces half of patients to become disabled from the work force within five to ten years? and reduces life expectancy by as much as 18 years. RA affects about one per cent of the world's adult population, most commonly women between the ages of 30 and 50.
Over Medication; Grandma is on Drugs
It is very interesting this hypochondriac attitude which permeates our society? The power of suggestion is alive and well? "Do not feel good today, take a drug?" Oh that made you feel a different way? Take another drug? Oh those two together caused another feeling you do not like, my oh my, here is a third drug? You know these tests prove conclusive that this is not working and something is wrong, we should try this other drug too? Crazy, are you buying all this.
Relafen: A New Drug with an Old Danger
Individuals who regularly take Relafen (nabumetone) or other anti-inflammatory medications, either for arthritis, joint pain, or other indications, should be aware of severe adverse health implications that can potentially result from prolonged use. Relafen is usually prescribed for osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis to reduce pain, inflammation, and stiffness, but can also be prescribed for other purposes. Relafen works by reducing the level of hormones in the body that can cause pain and inflammation. In addition to the warnings provided with the packaging of the medication and those related by a physician, there are other important concerns that users of Relafen should know about.
Five Secrets of High Blood Pressure Treatment
Thirty percent of human population has a high blood pressure and everyone has a 90% risk to acquire it during the rest of the life. As a result, half of all human deaths are due to the major complications of high blood pressure, mainly stroke and heart attack.
First Step To Addiction Recovery
The first step to over comming any addiction is to detoxify the body of the addictive substance. Whether it's herion, crack, or meth detoxifcation
of the liver is essential to addiction recovery. There are several methods to bring the chemicals out of your body. One is sauna or sweat therapy.
Chicago Drug Rehab: Long Term Help For a Real Recovery
The central location of the city of Chicago has made it a hub for the distribution of drugs in the Midwest, though much of the problem remains upon the city's streets. The use of crack cocaine is the city's biggest drug problem - since 1990, admissions to Chicago drug rehab for the treatment of this drug have more than doubled. The use of heroin has also increased in recent years, meaning that the drug rehab system now has to work harder than ever before.
The Controversy of Viagra® (Sildenafil Citrate), Other ED Medications, and Their Generic Counterpart
There has definitely been a good deal of controversy over Viagra®, it's use and more recently, it's side effects among some unfortunate patients however, apart from the specific drug itself and the effects, reasons and results of it's use, there has been another controversy of which only those involved would probably be aware. I am referring to the purchase and use of Generic Brands of Sildenafil Citrate.
Naproxen Lawyer: Aleve Recall Consideration
Naproxen belongs to a class of drugs called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. This basically means it's a common pain reliever among the ranks of ibuprofen (Motrin), indomethacin (Indocin), nabumentone (Relafen), and several others you are probably familiar with. Naproxen, which is sold over the counter as Aleve, is used to manage mild to moderate pain, fever, and inflammation. It works by reducing the production of pain chemicals in the brain. Naproxen was approved by the FDA in December, 1991.
The Basic First Aid for Child Care Programs
We cannot help but accept the fact that children do get into trouble and sometimes emergencies when they are left in childcare programs. We just have to pray that most injuries sustained are minor such as cuts, scrapes, bruises, among others.
Lotronex Lawyer: Lotronex Side Effects Lawsuit
Even in clinical trials, Lotronex displayed a tendency towards causing ischemic colitis in patients. From the February in which Lotronex was approved until June, the FDA received seven reports of serious complications of constipation leading to hospitalization. Surgery was required to relieve some cases of extreme Lotronex constipation. Lotronex Medication Guides were issued under regulations that became effective in 1999 when Lotronex patients ended up in hospitalization and requiring surgical procedures for constipation. Since Lotronex is a drug used to treat diarrhea, these surgeries were obviously not necessary to treat conditions held before taking the drug.
Overview of FDA Recalled Drug - BEXTRA
Bextra, also known as valdecoxib, is a prescription medicine known as a COX-2 Inhibitor. Like Vioxx and Celebrex, it supposedly lessen the pain of inflammation and fever without causing stomach irritation common to aspirin and other NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs). Pharmaceutical corporation Pfizer released Bextra in 2001, and prescription sales soon rose to 3.2 billion dollars.
Zyprexa - History of the Drug
Since the beginning of mankind, mental illness has played a role in our society. Victims of such illnesses have been outcast, stereotyped and often ridiculed. However, over time, medical and psychiatric science advanced and the medical community became more knowledgeable of these conditions.
Phentermine Diet Pills: When Diet and Exercise Arent Enough To Help You Lose Weight
Have you been struggling to lose weight, but diet and exercise aren't giving you the results you need to be healthy? Are you sick of people telling you that you could lose weight if only you had the will-power? It may be time to ask a physician about a phentermine prescription.
|
