Sexual harassment victims are twice as likely to suffer high blood pressure, a study has found. These women were also 89% more likely to sleep poorly - similar to the disruption seen in victims of sexual assault.
The typical increase in blood pressure was enough to raise their risk of cardiovascular disease, such as heart attacks and strokes, by 20%.
The study of 304 women aged 40 to 60 found almost a fifth had been sexually harassed - and comes as the topic has received increased attention due to the #MeToo movement.
Women who reported being sexually harassed and were not on medication for high blood pressure were at more than twice the risk.
They are also at much greater risk of sleeping badly enough to be considered chronic insomniacs, researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in the US said. If you are a victim of assault or harassment, they concluded, get help.