Live Blog: The Health Impact of Domestic Violence

Nov. 5, 2013

By ABC News

A recently released Verizon Foundation and More magazine survey found that nearly 44 percent of American women have been victims of domestic violence. Worse, more than 80 percent of them report some sort of chronic health condition as a result.

Domestic abuse victims are at greater than average risk for back pain, chronic headaches and arthritis than those who have not experienced domestic violence, the survey found. They also have a higher than average incidence of depression, diabetes, asthma, digestive disease, and elevated rates of impaired brain, immune or endocrine system dysfunction.

ABC Health is holding a tweet chat today at 1 p.m. ET to highlight the health impact of domestic violence on its victims. Dr. Richard Besser, ABC News chief health and medical correspondent, will moderate the chat. He'll be joined by more than 50 organizations as well as survivors of domestic violence who want to share their stories.

Click here to see the Live Blog of the Nov. 5th, 2013 #abcDRBchat hosted by ABC's Dr. Richard Besser, on ABC.