CDC study: Childhood trauma linked to adult health problems

U.S. health officials estimate that millions of cases of heart disease and other illnesses are linked to abuse and other physical and psychological harm suffered early in life (Source: U.S. health officials link childhood trauma to adult illness,” Associated Press, Nov. 5, 2019).

In a report released Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated the impact of harmful childhood experiences on health in adulthood.

The CDC found that:

• Adults who experienced the most potentially traumatic events were more likely to smoke and drink heavily.
• Women, blacks and American Indians and Alaskan Natives were more likely to experience four or more kinds of harm during childhood.
• Preventing such events could potentially reduce the number of adults with weight problems by 2%, the number of adults with coronary heart disease by 13%, and the number of adults with depression by 44%.